Whether you’ve got something major on your mind or you’ve eaten too much sugar, sometimes it simply feels impossible to sit still. You may be familiar with the feelings: anxious, antsy feet, jittery body, crawling skin, general unease, or quickening breath. This overwhelming energy can be very irritating, but you should remember that energy can neither be created nor destroyed, only transformed. Sometimes, the only way to relieve your restlessness is to turn it into something good.

The following seven practices will teach you how to do just that.

Create

Put your wild energy to good use by creating something, whether it’s a painting or a dance choreography, emotion can fuel creativity. The key is not to judge your art, let your juices flow and see what happens. 

Have a boogie

When your feet are feeling fluttery, put your headphones in and dance yourself free. You’ll be surprised at how relieved you’ll feel afterward, plus it’s a great exercise. 

Try tapping

The Emotional Freedom Technique is a painless self-help method that involves tapping your fingers on various acupressure points all over your body, including the cheeks, chin, shoulders, and chest. Studies have shown that this practice physically and mentally releases stagnant energy. 

Use the opportunity to learn about yourself

Take time to understand the root of your restlessness. Are you feeling anxious about an upcoming project at work or an awkward conversation you need to have with your partner? Journaling your thoughts and feelings down may alleviate some of those emotions. 

Garden

Feel the sun on your body and take some time to reconnect with the Earth through gardening. The calming nature of our oxygen-giving friends may free you of that energy and allow a few moments of mental peace.

Clean your living space

Clutter around us can be distracting and off-putting when we’re trying to focus on the task at hand. By cleaning your outer world, you can bring some inner calm to yourself.

Meditate

If you can’t sit still, perhaps forcing yourself to sit anyway may do the trick. Meditation takes some practice, but this tried and true method really does help re-center your mind and bring inner peace. For some tips to get into meditation, check out this article on meditation for the busy mind.