Anyone else feeling tired right now?
Whether it’s financial worries in the midst of a crippling cost of living crisis or an ever-increasing workload with rising burnout rates, there’s plenty to be stressed about. moment.
We feel increasingly anxious in so many areas – from the personal to the professional. Our money worries are going nowhere (with bills rising again this month) and family, childcare and care responsibilities only add to the pressure.
But many of us have no choice but to just…carry on.
April marks National Stress Awareness Month, and with many candles lit at both ends, it came at exactly the right time.
Burnout Britain is in full swing – but what’s the best way to deal with stress when you have no choice but to keep moving forward in different aspects of life?
Counselor Georgina Ross, of Counseling Directory, says: ‘It can be very difficult to feel like you have to keep going and moving forward when you are already feeling very stressed and at full capacity.
“It’s too easy for people to tell us to ‘take a break’ but, sometimes, that’s easier said than done – or impossible for us to do.”
If this sounds familiar, the experts share some tricks to try.
Take five minutes every day
When we feel overwhelmed, it’s important to give ourselves a break.
That might only be five minutes of your time each day.
Georgina explains, “Trying to take time out of the day for yourself might help reduce some of your stress.
“It could be anything for just five minutes, like having a cup of tea on your own or listening to your favorite song in the car.”
practice meditation
When we are stressed, our mind can seem noisy, even foggy.
“When we’re feeling anxious, it can be easy to get caught up in negative thought patterns, feeding anxious thoughts with more anxious thoughts,” says Eve Lewis Prieto, director of education and mindfulness. at Headspace.
“Meditation can be a really effective and supportive way to quiet the chatter in the mind.”
If you want to give it a try, but aren’t sure where to start, be sure to check out our guide here.
Be kind to yourself
Practicing self-compassion is also really necessary when you’re pushed to your limits, adds Eve.
She explains: “It allows us to see our common humanity, we can see that as humans we are vulnerable and not perfect and that we are all going through difficult times in our lives.”
But Eve points out that self-compassion is different from self-pity.
“It’s really about providing space for healing instead of getting caught up in negative thought patterns or engaging in judgment and self-doubt,” she adds.
“It also helps broaden our perspective – it doesn’t mean denying what is happening to you, but rather framing it in a supportive way. For example, saying to yourself, “I’m having a hard time not feeling 100% right now, when I feel like I should, but I understand that it’s normal and natural for human beings to sometimes debate. »
Try Mindful Walking
We’ve all heard of “mindfulness” – but it can be hard to put into practice and turn off when life seems extremely hectic.
However, walking is an easy way to practice mindfulness on a daily basis, as it’s probably something you’ll be doing anyway.
Eve says: “Mindful walking is a great way to calm an anxious mind, connect with the body and feel the movement of each step – it could be the sensation of the legs touching the surface. Also pay attention to the environment around you, such as the chirping of birds or the sound of trees.
“If you’re feeling particularly anxious, try walking fairly fast to begin with and even shake your hands and arms, then gradually slow down to your normal pace.
“The reason this is effective is that it helps get out of the mind and into the body and our environment.”
It’s basically a good way to ground yourself, literally, when you’re feeling stressed.
Delegate where you can
Also, remember that your loved ones are there for you when you’re going through a tough time, says Dr. Elena Touroni, consultant psychologist and co-founder of the Chelsea Psychology Clinic.
She explains, “If you feel overwhelmed and have taken on too much, be sure to delegate and ask for help.
“Some people will have a harder time with this than others, depending on their own vulnerabilities.” But it’s not realistic to expect you can do it all.
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