10 gentle ways to find some calm today

I was sitting on my back step the other day, just watching the way the light filtered through the leaves of a gum tree. My mind was doing its usual thing like running through a mental checklist of errands, worrying about a conversation from three days ago and wondering if I’d remembered to defrost the mince.

It’s a busy, noisy kind of feeling that many of us carry around. We often think that to "reset," we need a massive change of scenery or a strenuous hike. But sometimes, the most effective way to quiet that internal noise is through small, intentional moments that don't require any special gear or a high level of fitness.

If you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed or just need to turn down the volume of the world for a while, here are some gentle ways to bring a bit of the outside in, or to step out into it at your own pace.

Small ways to find some quiet

1. Try a "sound swap" indoors If your house feels a bit frantic, try replacing the radio or a podcast with an Australian nature sound playlist. There’s something remarkably grounding about the distant warble of a magpie or the sound of wind in the she-oaks while you’re folding laundry or making a cuppa.
   

2. Focus on a single botanical detail Pick up a fallen leaf or a gumnut and really look at it. If you’re feeling up to it, try drawing it quietly. You don't need to be "good" at art; the goal isn't a masterpiece. It’s simply about the quiet act of observing the lines and textures.
   

3. Watch the clouds from a chair You don't even have to stand up for this one. Find a comfortable spot by a window or outside and just watch the movement above. It’s a gentle reminder that things are always shifting.
   

4. Touch the earth If you have a garden or a pot plant, spend a moment with your hands in the soil. The cool, damp texture is a very physical way to get out of your head and back into your body.
   

5. Notice the birds Not as a "birdwatcher" with binoculars, but just noticing who is visiting your garden or the local park. What are they doing? Where are they heading?

6. Listen for the furthest sound Close your eyes for a minute and try to pick out the most distant sound you can hear - perhaps a kookaburra in the distance or the wind in the trees two streets away.
   

7. Walk to the end of the street  It doesn't have to be a "trek." Just a slow stroll to the corner and back, noticing the different shades of green in the hedges along the way.
   

8. Create a living workspace If you’re at a desk all day, try surrounding yourself with a bit of greenery. A leafy indoor palm for example is a beautiful, low-fuss way to soften the corners of a room and make it feel more breathable. Keeping a small "nature find" like a smooth stone or a bit of bark on your desk can also act as a lovely tactile anchor when work feels a bit much.

9. Sip your tea outside Take your morning cuppa to the porch or the back step. Five minutes of fresh air before the day truly starts can change your entire perspective.
   

10. Savour a scent Find a leaf (maybe some lemon myrtle, eucalyptus or even a bit of lavender) and crush it between your fingers. Taking a slow breath of that natural fragrance is a very quick way to settle the mind.