7 Ways To Feel Less Overwhelmed
Stress is for other people. Not you.
Life is overwhelming at times, isn’t it?
Lord knows, I feel the pressure from time to time and end up feeling too stressed. Bills. Child care. Chores. More bills. Work. Work.
These and a hundred other responsibilities sometimes pile up, demanding my attention.
So what to do?
Fortunately, I have a number of strategies that have worked for me pretty consistently. Try some of these yourself and see what works for you.
No one should have to feel overwhelmed when there are other options.
Step Back
It may seem like avoidance, but for pure peace of mind, sometimes it’s best to just step back for a minute and do something you find relaxing. Go for a walk, read a book, or play a video game for half an hour.
Even if you’re dealing with many tasks that need doing, you can take them on more handily if you’ve taken some time to disconnect from the source of your stress for a short time.
Take a Deep Breath or Two
Try some deep breathing exercises if you’re short on time but still need to destress.
Stand up with your arms outstretched. Take a deep breath, hold it for a few seconds, then slowly exhale through your nose. Visualize your stress emptying from your body with each exhale.
Do this for a minute or two. You should feel more ready to tackle your next task.
Hydrate
Dehydration has a nasty tendency to sneak up on oneself. That alone can add to your overall stress.
The good news is that there’s an easy fix.
Drink some water.
It will improve your mind, clear your head, and allow you to be better prepared to take on all challenges.
Share Your Responsibilities
A few years ago, I was dealing with a bunch of hassles all at once, and it was making me miserable. I was taking on too many chores at home, dealing with bills and house finances, coordinating child care, and some elder care.
It was getting to be too much.
Enter my wife, who, while also busy, was able to juggle some of her responsibilities. Between us, we were able to divide out various obligations in a more equitable and manageable manner.
Ask for help. It works.
Take a Nap
Everything seems a bit better after you’ve had some sleep.
At the very least, you wake up with a fresh perspective, and maybe things don’t seem so bad.
Practice Saying No
You don’t have to say yes to everything.
This is probably the most helpful strategy in this piece.
When too many people expect too many things from you, you can dial it back and tell them it’s not a good time.
You might be worried it will hurt your career if it’s a business or work obligation. But burning out will hurt your career more.
There’s nothing wrong with knowing your limitations. If anything, it puts you in a better position to give the tasks you do accept the attention they deserve.
Break It Down
We’re planning some significant renovations. It’s a big project and long overdue.
Rather than view the home renovation as one enormous, insurmountable challenge, we’re breaking each part of the renovation down into small, bite-size chunks.
First, we clear out the junk we don’t need. Then we bring the plumber in and let him do his thing. Then we rip up some landscaping. Then we have a guy come to lay the foundation for the deck.
Then I build the deck… a large project in itself but also broken down into smaller chunks.
And a large, year-spanning project becomes a lot more manageable.
The same sort of approach can apply to a lot of tasks with multiple steps involved.
Don’t think about doing it all at once.
Take it one step at a time.
You’re Going To Be Fine
Taken all together, the central theme running through these destressing strategies is the idea of slowing down and taking perspective.
Even reading this should help a bit — even if you didn’t care for the content itself.
Slow down. Get out of your own head for a few minutes.
Nothing is impossible.
Keep calm, and carry on, as the saying goes.
Cheers!
About John Teehan
John lives in Rhode Island with his wife, son, and dog. He specializes in tech, health, business, parenting, pop culture, and gaming. Visit wordsbyjohn.net for more info and rates. Twitter: @WordsByJohn2.
Do you like poetry, short fiction, and general oddities? Check out my new book, Life Among Psychopaths: an unexpected potpourri, now available on Amazon.
