Guest Posts, Mental Health

How To De-Stress Your Stress

by Olivia

[Guest Post]

Hi everyone, I’m Shelly, an obsessive millennial that gets anxious with anything and everything. Ok that was a bit of an exaggeration, but it is how I feel at the moment. Most people have enjoyed the slowdown that came along with the COVID-19 pandemic and to be honest, I did too… Until I decided to take on blogging full time while working as an essential worker and raising a busy toddler. Don’t worry, this post isn’t a pity party- I’m very happy with everything I have chosen to do which you can read all about on GrowingWithSpawn.com. As overwhelming as it is, I do love my three jobs – yes, three, because that is what it feels like. I’ve spent the last few months searching for ways to make sure that I am able to dedicate enough time to each of my jobs without getting burnt out. So today, I’m here to share with you a few tips and tricks that I have learned to de-stress that stress. 

MAKE LISTS

This sounds a little obvious, but it works. The craziest days are usually the ones when we have so much to get done and can’t quite figure out where or how to start. What’s the solution to that you might ask? Well, just start… and make sure you do it in order of priority. That’s where your daily planner, to-do lists, digital notepads, sticky notes, etc come in handy. If you are scatterbrained like me, seeing a list of things and checking them off as you go along will not only be motivating, it will also reduce the amount of stress you feel going through each task. And no, mental lists don’t count. 

FIT IN SMALL BURSTS OF EXERCISE

Exercise helps with mental health, boosts your energy, helps you sleep better, improves digestion, improves cognitive function… the list goes on but I’ll leave that research with you. I’m the biggest hypocrite right now because this working from home life has me seated by my work station from 7am to 8pm with the occasional bathroom break. Did you know that if you don’t drink water or any fluids, you can eliminate a few bathroom breaks? Anyways, I digress, we’ll address that later. I used to go to CrossFit for the 5am class before the world stopped, but since then I made sure to continue to the workouts at home. Fast forward a few months and a positive covid test later, exercise no longer made the cut in my daily routine. The result? Sluggishness, irritability, impaired sleep and increased anxiety. Are you too busy to exercise? Try it in small bursts when you take a break. What I have noticed is that on the days that I am able to get a few minutes of skipping, a bit of jogging on the spot and even burpees, my productivity goes up significantly AND I get a good night’s rest. Win? 

COVER THE BASICS


Ever felt so busy that you don’t have time to eat, go to the bathroom or even breathe? Yeah we’ve all been there.What you need to realise is that you are human and need to cover the basic needs before you can tackle the harder tasks. In Portuguese we have a saying that goes “Saco vazio não fica em pé” which basically means that an empty sack won’t stand upright. Make sure you are fed, rested and have a workable environment to get through your tasks. Studying for an exam? Sleep early then get out of bed and sit in a proper setting. Cleaning up for the in-laws’ visit? Have breakfast first and don’t think about the nightmare to come. Trying to get through a project for work with tight deadlines? Eat, breathe and make use of that list we talked about earlier. My problem comes along with my office job, I find that I don’t usually remember to eat until I am a hangry monster. Doing so has had quite the adverse impact on my mood and mental health with very simple tasks such as calling a client provoking intense anxiety. Don’t be like me, eat your food and spare everyone the terror of dealing with a beast. 

ASK FOR HELP

We are all superheroes waiting to tap into our own superpowers. Some have found their magic powers, others have learnt to read minds and the rest of us are still waiting for a smoke signal to know where to look for that special power. If you haven’t figured yours out yet don’t worry, you’re not alone, there are about 7 billion other people in this world who are in the same boat. What some have figured out is that if you ask for help, you will be able to get that one thing done without painful hours of trying to figure out the ‘how’ and might actually get a bit more time to focus on other things. I’m a mom so I know the importance of asking for assistance every now and then. If you’re a student, get help understanding your schoolwork, ask your professors for an extension, get a tutor. Struggling at work? Reach out to a peer or your manager – on the job training doesn’t mean you have to figure it out alone. Just feeling lazy? Hire help… food deliveries and paid help are there for a reason 😉 

How do you like to de-stress when things get a-bit too much? What tips could you share on this topic?

Hope these tips help you deal with your stress! Don’t forget to check out Olivia’s post on my blog. I love this girl so much because not only is she the sweetest, but she is insanely talented! 

Until next time 
XOXO

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57 thoughts on “How To De-Stress Your Stress”

  8. These are such great ideas. I love making lists. I have lists for everything. I also think exercise is so important to keep us balanced and energized…even on days when you just don’t feel like it. Thanks for an excellent post.

    Liked by 5 people

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  15. Whenever I’m stressed I just go and lie down on my bed and think LOL , no, in real I pen down my thoughts it helps a lot, and thanks for the post toooo🤗

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply
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