Let’s discuss the juggling act that is our lives. From work (whether that’s managing a business or being part of a company), to family, to parenting, a buzzing social life or navigating a separation - life can get a bit much sometimes. If this sounds familiar, here are some tips to conquering overwhelming feelings and reducing stress.
On-going stress can affect overall well-being and in turn affect your physical state: sending your Central Nervous System into ‘flight or fight mode’; causing respiratory and cardiovascular symptoms (your heart goes into overdrive); weakening your immune system; not to mention the insomnia – the list is endless. This is why turning to unhelpful behaviours like excessive drinking, drug abuse or disordered eating - to deal with the symptoms in the list above - is common.
General
1. Pay attention to your needs:
· Sharing -
Therapy with a trained professional
Talking with trusted friends or confidantes
· Stay physically active (The benefits this does to mind and body is unbelievable. This is your time and an activity that no one can take away from you)
· Do enriching things for yourself:
Mental Wellness
Meditation
Deep Breathing
Relaxation
Stretching
Journaling
Gratitude
Affirmations
Lifestyle
Workout
Walking
Yoga
Go to bed early
Wake up early
Reading
Studying
Sports
Self-Care
Take a bath or shower
Do your skin routine
Get a haircut
Maintain a healthy, balanced diet
Hobby or Learning
Teach yourself a new skill
Learn a language
2.Let go of problems that are beyond your control and stay focused on things you can control.
Things I Can Control:
When you ask for help
Your self-care routine
How you speak to yourself
The boundaries you set
How you interpret situations
How you treat others
My habits, patterns and behaviour
Where I place my attention
Things I Cannot Control:
How someone perceives me
The behaviour of another person
The world and the issues in it
Belief systems of family, friends and strangers
The way people speak to me
3. Give yourself the space to feel ALL your of emotions
4. Try to avoid destructive activities:
Drinking heavily
Drugs
Angry behaviours towards your ex-spouse
Disordered eating
5. Make time for fun.
blast that tune and dance your heat out at home!
watch that movie you know you love
get dressed up and get out with your friends
go for that coffee your friends have been trying to organise with you
try that new brunch place
sing your heart out!
6. Prioritise and organise:
Create a list of things you have to do daily and list them in order of priority. (If there isn’t a clear priority, it often helps to do the hardest task first. They call this “eating one’s frogs”)
7. Maintain a usual routine
Wake up and go to sleep at the same time every day
Regular walks
Exercise at least 3 times a week
Eat 3-5 meals
Practise self-care rituals
8. Journal your thoughts and feelings: you can have more clarity when you bring pen to paper and your thoughts are articulated. It also helps when you are in the process of making a big decision in your life – you could weigh up pros and cons and note down all of the things you have to do to act upon the decision you make
· Simplify your life (de-clutter):
Be rid of negative people
De-clutter your home (dispose of clothes you no longer wear and items that no longer have any sentimental value)
· Know that it’s perfectly okay to say NO:
To engagements
Taking on extra responsibilities (we know it’s unavoidable sometimes)