5 Ways to Stay Balanced when Life becomes too Hectic
Time seems to pass too quickly. Who can believe that it is the beginning of July already? We are in the midst of amazing hot weather and half the year has passed in a flurry of activity. It has been an incredibly busy few months which has seen the launch of my new website.
I am a firm believer in keeping life simple, and pulling three websites into one main place, has been one of the best decisions I have made in terms of time and energy. Life is out there for living, and time is something to spend wisely.
Moving house has also been added into the mix, along with visiting my clients each month in Yorkshire and studying Level 1 of BWRT with Terence Watts at the Institute of Brain Working Recursive Therapy. Passing the Psychosexual Diploma earlier in the year also gave my brain a big workout!
It is easy to fall into the habit of taking on too much, until the day you realize that you are not thriving but coping instead. Stress and overwhelm is personal to each individual. Some cope well, and some don’t. Luckily enough as a Therapist, I have a number of fabulous tools in my toolbox to access to get through challenging times and I would love to share some of these with you.
Time Management
Time is precious. We all have access to 24 hours a day, and a personal choice on how to spend our free time. When you reach the end of the day feeling as if you have not achieved what you need to, then it’s time to take a look at where you are spending your time. Reflect and record how many minutes or hours of the day you are spending on Social Media, scrolling the newsfeed, or Instagram, only to find hours have passed, but you have achieved nothing.
Some people are horrified at the amount of time they are giving away. Time that could be spent doing more of what you love, and to prioritize outstanding jobs, tasks, and projects that need to be completed. The same applies to watching TV or playing computer games. Time is something you will never get back, and it passes so quickly. Make a plan to fill your free time with things that matter, that adds value to your life in some way.
Make sure you create a space in your busy day for just sitting and relaxing, appreciating and reflecting on the positive aspects of your day. Spending time writing in a Journal is also wonderfully relaxing. We have a great selection on the site.
Self-Care
When you feel your levels of stress rising is the time to take action immediately. A little bit of stress is a good thing as it nudges you to get things done. However, once stress becomes chronic and long-term, then problems are going to arise physically, mentally, and emotionally. There are so many symptoms of stress, but your body will generally start to let you know that it isn’t happy:
- Insomnia
- Tension headaches
- Digestive problems
- Raised blood pressure
- Feeling anxious
The list of symptoms is endless. It is a well-known fact that stress causes huge problems in overall health and wellness. To stay balanced in hectic times, self-care is paramount. Practicing taking care of yourself is not selfish, it is an act of honouring your own needs as much as you do for others. It is sad that many people take better care of their cars than they do of their own wellbeing.
Learn to tune into your thoughts, feelings, and emotions. If you are feeling less than emotionally great, then take a look at the triggers that are causing this feeling. How could you change it? What could you do to feel better? Are you saying yes to others, but saying no to yourself? Ignoring your own needs is a recipe for disaster.
Don’t let your hobbies, friendships, or time for yourself slip. It is these things that help you enjoy life more, and it’s time to do more of what makes your happy! Have a pamper day, go to the Movies, treat yourself to lunch, put your feet up with a book you’ve always wanted to read. Why not? You deserve it.
Look out for short-term energy relieving behaviour
When feelings and emotions start to feel uncomfortable then negative habits can bubble up to the surface. Whether that be one too many takeaways, a tub of ice-cream in front of the TV, or rekindling a smoking habit, popping into the bar a few times a week after work, and for some people taking drugs to numb themselves. Short term pleasure is not the answer as the underlying problem and issue will still be there waiting to be resolved.
It is in the time of greatest stress and challenge that you actually need to be more on top of your eating habits. Your body will be under stress and needs vital nutrients to keep your energy levels up. Now is not the time for an excess of alcohol, sugar, and processed foods.
Move your Body!
Exercise releases endorphins and gives you the feel-good factor. Your body was created to move, not to sit on the sofa or at a desk all day. It isn’t necessary to have a gym membership to enjoy exercise. Walking is one of the best exercises you can take. Especially if you are out in nature. The same applies to exercise classes. There are so many to choose from:
- Zumba
- Pilates
- Spinning
- Salsa
- Bodypump
- HIIT
You are literally spoiled for choice. If you don’t fancy any of those, then you can also exercise at home with a DVD or something you can download from the internet. The only thing that is stopping you is you (unless there is a medical reason why you cannot exercise of course). Exercise is also a great way to relieve stress. Make a plan, book the classes, schedule in your diary and as Nike says “Just Do It”. Your mind and body will thank you.
Good Quality Sleep
It’s a great feeling to wake up feeling energized and rejuvenated, and a good quality of sleep can make you feel like that. There are many things that interfere with sleep, one of them is using devices just before bed. This is too stimulating for the brain. According to the great British sleep survey, 51.3% of people have trouble finding their sleep bliss, with women suffering more than men.
Sleep deprivation not only leaves you feeling physically and mentally tired but also compromises your immune system leaving you more open to illnesses and disease. So what can you do? Sleeping in a pitch black room, aim to get to bed between 9 pm and 11 pm, staying off digital devices two hours before bed, and no coffee, alcohol or stimulants a few hours before bed, are helpful ways to ensure good quality sleep.
The above are just a few of the things you can do to keep yourself balanced when life around you is overwhelming.
If you enjoyed reading this Blog, there are many others on the site, that you might like to read. Need any help or life guidance support? then just pop over to the Services page on the site. There are many options available for you and many being available via Skype. Distance is no obstacle.
If you are a woman moving into your 40s and beyond, then head over the Flourish Beyond 40 Page under Programmes on the site. This is a fabulous Women’s Wellness Programme, globally accessible where you are in the world.
Have a peaceful and calm month.
