More and more people are realizing just how important it is to protect their mental health. In the past, people would ignore any mental health issues they were having in an attempt to make them go away, but this would exacerbate the problem. Eventually, this leads to things like burn out, mental exhaustion, and a plethora of other issues. Mental health and physical health are closely entwined, so making sure you know how to manage yours is a must.
Most people lead busy lives these days due to work, family commitments, and so on, but knowing how to keep your stress and anxiety under control at these times and actually following through is an act of self care. Below, you’ll find 7 smart ways to keep your stress and anxiety under control when you are busy.
- Take A Step Back
You might feel like you have absolutely no time to stop and slow down when you’re busy, but it’s at times like this when it becomes even more important to take a step back. When you feel overwhelmed with thoughts and everything you have to do, try to look at this objectively. What can you control today? What is absolutely not negotiable for the day, and what could you perhaps do tomorrow, or even at the weekend? Are you packing too much onto your to-do list in an attempt to stay busy, and not actually planning for time to wind down? Many people make these mistakes!
- Plan Frequent Breaks
Planning frequent breaks is so important, even when you’re busy. You should also find that with frequent breaks that you find it easier to stay focused. For example, stay focused and work intensely for 30 minutes, and then allow yourself a 10 minute break. This is often more effective than working for longer periods of time and then taking longer breaks.
- Take A Nap (Or At Least Make Sure You’re Getting Enough Sleep)
When you feel overwhelmed, the best thing you can do sometimes is take a nap for up to 20 minutes. This can help you to feel refreshed and more able to remember important information. At the very least, you should make sure you are getting enough sleep at night time. Making sue your bedroom is the ideal environment for sleep is crucial. A memory foam mattress made in the USA could be just what you need, along with curtains that block out light and aromatherapy oils to help you to relax.
- Focus On Your Breathing
One thing you can always control is your breathing. Most people don’t realize that shallow breaths signal to the body that we are stressed, often making these situations worse. By breathing deeply when you remember, you’ll bring yourself back to the present moment and feel a little better.
- Make Time For Exercise
Exercising for even just 15 minutes a day can help you to get rid of stress and anxiety. It can also help you to get focused before an important piece of work or task!
- Don’t Abuse Caffeine
Caffeine can make you jittery and even more anxious. It could also interrupt your sleep, making the next day even worse! Use it carefully, but don’t abuse it.
- Stop Being So Hard On Yourself
You are only human, so stop being so hard on yourself. You can only do what you can do, so give yourself a break.
Kori
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