Peach graphic with the words managing stress

Feeling stressed and overwhelmed? Check out the post below which I originally wrote for Erica at Unique Rebel’s Union.

Stress can be an inevitable part of life. Juggling life, work, and other commitments (not to mention living through a global pandemic!) adds up, and even things you’re excited to be working on and doing can feel overwhelming at times.

If you’re finding keeping all of your plates spinning a LOT, you’re not alone. It’s worth remembering that not all stress is bad! Good forms of stress can help with momentum through big life challenges¹, but it’s also useful to have some tools to help you to be aware of your stress levels, so you can manage them better.

Here are some things to think about, if you’re feeling stressed or overwhelmed!

Stress tip #1 Pace yourself

Burnout starts with an abundance of enthusiasm. If you’re someone who throws themselves into things with 150% energy and drive, you risk depleting your resources before you even start². Think about how you can you set yourself realistic goals, that allow enough time for downtime, rest, and most importantly fun.

Stress tip #2 Make space

We’ve all heard of the metaphor ‘spinning a lot of plates’. It can be helpful to think of those plates as being made of different materials. Some are made of glass and these represent the things you can’t compromise on, while others are made of rubber and if you drop them they won’t break. Give yourself permission to drop as many rubber plates as you can, for now. You can pick them up and get them spinning again when things are calmer.

Stress tip #3 Ask for help

Friends, family, and your community are all great sources of support. Our society values hyper-independance and sells the idea that we should be able to do everything alone, but humans are social creatures and we thrive with the support of others. There is no shame in asking for help if you need it. We have all been through a LOT in the past few years. Reach out to friends and family, if you’re feeling stressed. If you need some extra support, you’ll find a list of resources here.

Stress tip #4 Be mindful

Studies have shown that regularly practising mindfulness meditation can reduce insomnia, improve anxiety and low mood, reduce stress, help with concentration and a whole load more³. Insight Timer is a free app that’s full of meditations, relaxations, sleep hypnosis, and education. I prefer it to other apps because of the diversity of content, the variety of voices, and the range of offerings. Find it here. You’ll also find free guided meditations on my blog. This Tree Meditation is especially peaceful and relaxing.

Stress tip #6 Shake it off

The book Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers talks about animals and their response to stress in the wild. Animals shake their bodies to dissipate tension. You can observe your dog next time it gets grumpy with another dog at the park to see this in action! Moving your body regularly is a great tension reliever. I like to stick on a very loud playlist and then throw myself around my living room

Stress tip #7 Take a break

We don’t always have to be doing. It can be tempting when you have a lot on to keep going. And keep going. And keep going… but that’s counter productive. Rest is so, so important, as is spending time doing the things that bring you joy. Schedule in time for rest and breaks, so you can come back to your to-do list reinvigorated and raring to go.

Stress tip #8 Take in the good

Our brains have a built-in negativity bias. That means when times get tough, we don’t notice the good things as much. You can balance this out by connecting with the positive things you experience, like a beautiful sunset or the joy you feel from laughing at something funny. Try to focus on any positive feelings for 20 - 30 seconds, so you really soak them up and do this a few times each day if you can. Over time these positive experiences add up, and weave themselves into the fabric of your brain⁴.

Stress tip #9 Access support

Support from other people is so important to help us to regulate our feelings and experiences. If you need a bit of extra support, this post has suggestions about organisations and resources that can help. You can find out about upcoming Clear Space events here.