So this past week, I managed to lose my keys. Three times. In three different places. The stresses of school, work and life had hit me hard.
My mind was not capable of processing things that were happening in the now. Instead, my mind was constantly racing. It was always five steps ahead. I was too busy stressing about my projects, tests, homework, work and everything else I had piled on that week. It seemed unbearable. One of the places I left my keys at was Starbucks. While at Starbucks, the barista probably thought I was heavily medicated or on some time of drug because I, literally, was not all there. Physically I was there, but mentally I was trying to stay sane. However, in reality I was losing my sanity because I couldn't even keep track of my own things.
Point is, I'm sure we've all had those weeks — the weeks where we all have so much to do and have no idea how we're going to do it all. At times it feels like I'm in a shark tank, and it's being filled up with water — fast, really fast. My mind is panicking and racing to try to save my life but the water is filling up too quickly and instead I lose my sanity. However, the water stops, and you realized you spent a large amount of time panicking and doing absolutely nothing productive to save yourself.
Here are five tips to keep you sane during those times of stress — they could possibly save your life.
1. Be grateful for another day of life. The stressful week will hit, but there is no guarantee that you'll be waking up tomorrow. So be thankful that you get to live one more day. The world ain't so bad, when you see it that way.
2. Don't live in the past. It's human nature to live in the past. Sometimes we just can’t let go of what happened, and we have this internal battle with ourselves. We beat ourselves up about it. It's time for you to let go of what happened. Don't hold grudges. Forgive yourself for your wrongdoings or forgive others for their wrongdoings to you. Today is a day where you can start off new.
3. Don't live in the future. It's easy to get caught up and start stressing about what you need to accomplish. Your mind will sprint off, and there you go trying to catch up with it. But, when you do that, you're missing out on life. There's too many great things happening in the moment that you're missing out on because you are too busy having a relay with your mind. Living in the now will also benefit you. You won't be absent-minded all the time. You won't forget as much. You will also appreciate everything, just a little bit more.
4. Stop. Pause. Take a breath. You can’t complete everything at once. Also, you’re going to get too stressed if you keep thinking about everything you have to do. Take it in, one breath at a time.
5. Find a reason to smile — even if it’s the joy of getting a coffee in the morning or having lunch with one of your dearest friends or take a few minutes to just de-stress. Be mindful. Calm the nerves. Calm the mind (also, wine helps).
The sun will rise and the sun will set. Let's take a minute to smell the roses shall we?
