Peace is an inside job: How to reset without booking a flight

When life gets overwhelming, many of us fantasise about escape. A quiet cabin in the woods. A beach in Portugal. A one-way ticket anywhere but here.

But what if the reset you really need doesn’t require time off or a plane ticket? What if it’s already available — right where you are?

Finding calm in the chaos

“Most of us are chasing calm in the wrong places,” says Valerie Jennings (pictured above), a certified mindfulness teacher and health coach based in Belgium. "We're managing so many competing demands — work deadlines, family needs, personal goals — while trying to maintain our sense of self," she explains.

Jennings is the founder of Nature of MIND, a mindfulness-based coaching practice that supports people in high-responsibility roles who are running on empty but still showing up for everyone else. Through personalised one-on-one coaching and seasonal group retreats, she helps clients reconnect with inner peace and clarity, no matter what the circumstances are surrounding them.

If you’ve been feeling stretched thin or stuck in overdrive, you’re not alone. The human nervous system wasn’t designed for the pace and complexity of modern life. Constant noise, notifications and obligations create a kind of background buzz that never really turns off.

Why mindfulness works

Unlike a vacation, mindfulness doesn’t remove stressors — it shifts how you relate to them. Instead of reacting on autopilot, you begin to respond with clarity. Instead of spiraling into perfectionism or overthinking, you learn to pause, breathe and reset from within.

Studies have shown that even short daily practices can reduce perceived stress, improve sleep, and enhance emotional resilience.

“Mindfulness isn't about adding more to your to-do list,” Jennings says. “It's about finding space to breathe within the life you already have."

A simple practice to start today

You don’t need special equipment or hours of free time. Try this quick grounding practice:

1. Stop for one full minute.

Close your eyes or soften your gaze. Notice your breath without trying to change it.

2. Feel your body.

Drop attention into your feet, hands, and seat. What sensations are present?

3. Offer yourself a kind phrase.

Try: “I’m allowed to pause.” Or: “Peace begins with me.”

That’s it. A 60-second reset that costs nothing— but often helps you refocus on what matters.

Ready to go deeper?

If this resonates and you're ready for lasting change, Jennings offers personalised one-on-one coaching packages designed for busy lives. Over three months, you'll cultivate behaviours that support lasting calm and clarity, based on your own vision of health.

“Peace isn’t passive,” says Jennings. “It’s a skill. And once you learn how to access it, you realise you don’t need to escape your life to enjoy it again.”

Valerie Jennings offers mindfulness-based coaching and seasonal retreats through Nature of MIND. Learn more at natureofmind.be.