Ugh, feeling anxious, frustrated, out of control, overwhelmed, hopeless, low motivation? All signs of being #stressed and not feeling we are able to meet the demands that are coming our way.
To escape these feelings of discomfort, we may resort to things that gave us comfort in the past - food, sweets, snacking, drinking, surfing the web. These usually lead to a temporary feeling of relief but then we often feel worse after the fact.
“To escape these feelings of discomfort, we may resort to things that gave us comfort in the past - food, sweets, snacking, drinking, smoking, surfing the web.”
What to do instead?
Some tips include:
having a plan - this reduces anxiety as we feel a little more in control.
create a routine - this also helps things feel more normal and less out of control. For starters, get out of bed at a normal time, get dressed, eat breakfast at a predictable time. Follow a routine throughout your day and into the evening to set yourself up for a good night's sleep.
move more - movement helps with mood and overall energy. If it can be done with your favorite music, even better.
eat healthy and only at meal times - this reduces calorie intake, helps with energy, and also replenishes nutrients that may be lost through the stress response.
practice mindfulness which is bringing your attention to the present moment, right here and now. Our brains tend to time travel to the past and to the future. It's not always easy to practice this, especially initially, but with repetition, it will get easier.
And as I always say, start out really easy. Very small behaviors build on themselves and before you know it, you've got some supportive habits to help you through stressful times!