In a world as busy and chaotic as the one we live in today it is so easy to become overwhelmed and anxious. Rather than crumbling under the weight of the world in terms of school, work, family, or whatever else it may be, here is a helpful guide to taking a step back and adjusting some small things in order to see big results:
1. Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle
Everyone knows that this is a lot easier said than done, but the way that you treat your body directly affects the way that you think and feel. To avoid stress eating that bag of chips or skipping breakfast, make a meal plan at the beginning of each week that includes quick, yet healthy meals and stick to it. Even consider doing meal prep at the beginning of each week if you don't have much time to prepare food during the week. Also reduce sugar and caffeine and avoid smoking and excessive amounts of alcohol.
2. Organize and Prioritize
If you don't already, use a planner to organize your school and work schedule, your plans, and any other appointments you may have. Once you see what blocks of time you do and do not have available, it can be easier to plan other aspects of your life. Take your free blocks of time to do any homework or chores in order to get ahead so that you can use your later blocks of free time to do things that you love and enjoy. Without a doubt, the longer you hold things off, the more stressed you will be.
3. Avoid Creating Unnecessary Stress
If your friends ask you to go out or your coworkers have a fun weekend event planned and you really want to go, but know that it will negatively affect your stress levels and shorten your time for productivity, say NO. It is so important to focus on your responsibilities first and not overcommit to things that you know will only cause you major stress later. The truth is, even if you do go out or attend some kind of event knowing that you still have so much to do, you will not enjoy your time with friends as much as you typically would. It is better to wait until your plate is clear and then allow yourself to make other plans.
4. Improve Your Sleep Schedule
If you prioritize and finish your responsibilities towards the beginning of the day or even a few hours before night come around, you will hopefully have an easier time getting to bed earlier. I know it can be tempting after a long day to stay up past a time that will allow you to get at least 8 hours of sleep by watching Netflix or checking social media, but trust me, your body and mind will thank you and reward you in the morning if you skip the latest episode of your current favorite show. After a good night of sleep, you will wake up feeling more energized and ready to take on the day and will avoid sleeping through your alarm and potentially being late to wherever you need to go. Improving your sleep schedule also means staying away from the opposite end of the spectrum which is oversleeping. If you oversleep, your head will feel heavy and you will never want to get out of bed.
5. Learn to Cope with Stress
Be it through exercise, drinking herbal teas, or practicing meditation and deep breathing, learning to deal with stress is so important. Never count on the fact that your stress will completely go away and instead prepare to make it manageable through different methods. Finding the healthy method of stress relief that works the most for you is sure to help you breathe a little more.
