Welcome back to the final part in this series on Overcoming Overwhelm. Picking up where we left off last week, here are some final suggestions on creating more balance and liberty in your life.
Routine is your friend. This is pure physiology: the brain tends to send much less stress signals if it knows what’s coming next. Establishing daily routines and clearly allocating certain parts of your day to certain task is a very helpful stress management technique underappreciated by many. We aren’t only talking about work, though! For example, by waking up at relatively the same time every day and planning your meals ahead of time, you are building a known, and thereby more relaxing, routine in which your mind and body know what to expect.
Socialize! It’s very easy to get caught in an endless work-home-work cycle, going without seeing your friends and loved ones sometimes for months which keeps you and your life completely out of balance. Instead, spend as much quality time as you can with those who make you laugh, bring good memories and support you in your life and in your career goals. Remember the routines tip? Schedule those dates just like you would schedule meetings and conferences! Too tired after work? Early breakfast, quick lunch or a group fitness class are much better than nothing. And speaking of exercise and such…
Stay aware around your health and fitness. Healthy nutrition and regular exercise form an excellent foundation of stress-free life. We are not talking about radical interventions such as never touching pizza again or killing yourself at the gym every day. Eliminate or decrease alcohol and tobacco, go for long walks, dance, experiment with new healthy recipes or try this new salad bar across the road. Life is meant to be lived….so live it with what brings you healthy pleasure.
Practice relaxation. As much as it’s important to experience excitement, to minimize the stress we also need to learn how to relax. There are various ways of achieving mental and physical relaxation. Taking time to completely involve yourself in gardening or reading a magazine, to formal techniques such as yoga, gentle stretching, mindful relaxation and meditation will go a long way in reducing your stress. You can learn these practices from books, find a specialized studio nearby or even download one of many smartphone relaxation apps. The choice is yours.
When to ask for help. Sometimes, you may have so much stress in your life that nothing seems to help much. If you find it too hard to cope with your daily responsibilities, and your work life has turned into a complete hell, please set up an appointment with a professional in your area. You can seek support from a health care professional, counselor and perhaps a personal coach.
I truly hope you found this series helpful! And as a general guide, remember: “The time to relax is when you don’t have time for it.” (Sydney J. Harris)
