Life can feel loud. From constant notifications to endless responsibilities, it’s easy to feel like your peace is slipping away. For midlife women especially, this season can bring unique challenges. Adjusting to physical and emotional shifts can be a full-time job. Along with so many other responsibilities, you could find yourself longing for peace.
But here’s the truth: peace isn’t found in a perfect schedule or a magically stress-free life. Peace is an inside job. It’s created in the small choices we make every day to protect our calm and nurture our inner world.
If you’ve been craving a calmer, more grounded way to move through your days, you’re in the right place. Let’s walk through five approachable ways to keep your peace, with simple swaps that you can start practicing today.
1. Guard Your Energy
Energy is your most valuable resource—and when it’s constantly poured out without being restored, you’ll feel depleted. Ask me how I know.
Many of us say “yes” to everything out of guilt, habit, or fear of disappointing others. But every yes you give away without thought is a “no” to something else. That “no” could be your inner peace slipping out the door.
Instead of automatically agreeing, pause. You don’t need to answer right away. Try: “Thanks for asking. Let me check my schedule and get back to you.”
That single pause gives you room to breathe. It lets you decide if the ask aligns with how you want to spend your energy.
I’m certainly not suggesting that you only think of yourself. As a mom, wife, and woman of faith, there have been occasions when I’ve needed to compromise. But, when it becomes a habit to put yourself last, your wellness can suffer.
Other ways to guard your energy:
- Create boundaries around phone time. Don’t start and end your day with a screen. I know this can be a tough one!
- Say no kindly. You don’t owe anyone an explanation beyond, “That won’t work for me right now.” Practice saying it before you have to use it. Trust me on this one!
- Pour into activities that restore you. Gardening, sewing, or even just sipping tea by a window can refill your energy bank. It’s ok to be still. Your value isn’t in the things you do, it’s in who you are.
2. Create Micro Pauses
You don’t always need an hour-long reset to feel more energized. Sometimes 60 seconds is enough. I call these “micro pauses”—tiny breaks in your day that give your nervous system a reset.
Some ideas to try:
- Close your eyes and take three slow breaths.
- Step outside and feel the sun on your face.
- Stretch your arms overhead and let out a sigh.
- Flip through a favorite magazine for 5 minutes.
These mini pauses add up. They remind your brain and body that you don’t need to sprint through life without stopping.
3. Curate Your Inputs
What you take in, shapes how you feel. If your peace feels shaky, it’s time to look at what you’re consuming. Doomscrolling the news can keep your brain in a constant state of comparison. Spending hours on social media can also put your brain on high alert.
I love a good action movie or mystery. Nevertheless, there are times when I have to say no to these. I can feel the anxiety rise and for what? A movie is going to steal my peace? I don’t think so!
Instead, try curating your inputs:
- Listen to calming music or uplifting podcasts while cooking or commuting.
- Choose books that inspire, not drain.
- Trade 15 minutes of scrolling for 15 minutes of journaling, doodling, or painting.
Remember, your peace is too precious to hand over to an algorithm.
4. Move Stress Out
Peace isn’t just mental—it’s physical. Stress lives in your body, and if you don’t move it out, it piles up. You don’t need a gym membership or a grueling workout plan. Gentle movement can be just as effective (and much more enjoyable).
A few to try:
- Walking: A slow stroll where you notice three things you see, hear, and feel.
- Rebounding (mini trampoline): Playful bouncing to shake loose stagnant energy.
- Qi Gong or Tai Chi: Flowing movements that link body and breath.
- Stretching: Even 5 minutes can release tension.
Movement doesn’t have to be about fitness goals. It can simply be about coming home to your body. It also helps your body reset.
5. Anchor with Rituals
Rituals are small, intentional practices that anchor your day. They don’t have to be fancy—they just need to matter to you.
Some grounding rituals:
- Morning tea with no phone.
- Evening journaling or gratitude list.
- Watering houseplants with care.
- Cooking a comforting meal, like Chicken & Dumplings, with music on in the background.
- Sewing, knitting, or painting just for the joy of creating.
These rituals remind you that peace is found in the everyday moments, not just the big ones.
Instead of This → Try This Table
| Instead of This… | Try This Instead… | Why It Works |
|---|---|---|
| Saying “yes” to every request to avoid guilt | Pause and say, “Let me check my schedule and get back to you.” | Creates space to protect your energy without immediate guilt. |
| Reaching for your phone first thing in the morning | Take 3 slow breaths and set an intention before looking at screens | Sets a calm tone for your day instead of starting in reactive mode. |
| Doomscrolling news/social media when anxious | Step outside for 5 minutes of fresh air or a short walk | Shifts your nervous system from fight-or-flight into rest and reset. |
| Bottling up stress until you explode | Gentle movement: stretch, shake, or do 2 minutes of rebounding | Moves stress hormones out of your body before they pile up. |
| Collapsing into bed with a busy brain | Create a 5-minute evening ritual (tea, journaling, gratitude list) | Signals your body to wind down, improves sleep, and restores peace. |
Extra Calming Activities for Everyday Peace
When you’re looking for ways to center yourself, keep a list of calming activities you can reach for instead of automatically grabbing your phone:
- Adult coloring books for creative focus.
- Gardening to connect with nature.
- Sewing or knitting for slow, rhythmic calm.
- Painting for creative release.
- Jumping on a mini trampoline for playful stress relief.
- Reading, napping, a warm bath, or even just sitting outside for simple self-care.
These aren’t luxuries—they’re small acts of kindness for your nervous system.
Action Step
✨ Grab a notebook and jot down the things you do in a typical week. As you look over your list, notice which activities leave you feeling energized and which ones tend to drain you.
Then ask yourself: How could I shift things around—even in small ways—to do more of what fills me up and less of what wears me out?
Conclusion
Keeping your peace doesn’t mean avoiding all stress or creating a perfectly controlled life. It means choosing small swaps, daily rituals, and calming practices that help you stay grounded, even when life gets messy.
You don’t need to do all five steps at once. Start with one. Take the pressure off. Try a single micro pause today, or swap one “automatic yes” for a gentle boundary. Over time, these tiny choices add up to big shifts.
Because your peace is worth protecting—and it’s possible to hold onto it, even in a chaotic world.
