Everyone is busy, but if you don’t take the time for yourself your stress can build until you can’t take it anymore. Before this happens, check out these ways to calm your inner stress and get peace of mind.
I believe that we are all busy–in fact I KNOW we are all busy. Working for the weekend, saving money, having a social life, paying bills, cooking meals, going to school, taking care of pets or kids, getting up at 7am and REPEAT.
What happens when we stop going through life on autopilot and really think about what’s going on around us?
The easy answer is that we begin to understand how stressed out we’ve actually become. I’m guilty of letting my stress build until the last possible second wherein I explode about something very minor.
In order to combat this, I’ve developed a series of techniques for calming the demonic stress within that we all get from time to time.
BEFORE YOU EXPLODE:
Go for a walk.
This might seem simple, but walking is exercising, and exercise is stress-relieving. When we’re stressed, it’s hard to find the motivation to clear our minds. That’s why I believe a good walk will clear your mind and make you relax your mind.
Drink tea.
Simple, yet effective. Sometimes we just need to go back to our roots and have a warm mug of tea with a spoonful of sugar.
Accomplish 1 thing on your to-do list, and then take a break.
When you’re overwhelmed by the daunting tasks piling on to your plate the best way to handle them effectively is to complete them one at a time. Reward yourself once you complete a task by taking a moment to relax. It will make going on to a new task a whole lot easier.
BREATHE.
Have you ever caught yourself holding your breath for no reason? Well, you may not be as stressed as me, BUT if you have then trust me, you need to focus on your breathing. When you feel the stress building up, breathe in through your nose for 5 seconds, hold for 3 seconds, and release for 5 seconds. You will feel clear-headed and much more sane.
Read a book.
There is nothing like relaxing a busy mind with a good book. When you immerse yourself in reading (for pleasure, not for work/school) you will find it very therapeutic. Your mind will take a back seat to the story unfolding in front of you, and your body will thank you for relaxing later.
Living in New York City doesn’t exactly scream relaxing. But learning to cope with your surroundings takes time, effort and a good attitude. Without these, stress can take over your life. Remember to always keep it classy and chill.
