This post seems very timely with the current state of our country. In fact, right now we’re facing some pretty big crossroads in my home state of California and I almost feel like using the word overwhelmed is an understatement. With all the stress and uncertainty we’re facing I wanted to share three simple things to do when you’re overwhelmed.
when you’re overwhelmed–
1. put down your phone and take a break from news and social media
We are living in a time where we have access to more information at our fingertips than ever before. But is it doing more harm than good? Is there a valid reason we need to know the news across the world the second that it happens? We literally have access to any piece of news (no matter how valid or true it is, by the way) anytime we want it. Unfortunately, many news sources come with bias and it’s often hard to get the “real story”. That’s why it’s so important to take a break when you’re overwhelmed and put your phone away. Read a book, take a walk, or relax in a shower instead! You don’t need to bury your head in the sand but
2. go outside for a change of scenery and get some fresh air
This is also one of the things that my friend Dr. Kim mentioned in our live the other day about helping your children emotionally self-regulate. Taking a break and going outside can do wonderful things for your mood and mental health.
Did you know that sunlight helps to keep your serotonin levels up? Studies also show that being in the outdoors can help you sleep better, helps to improve your self-esteem, and improves your focus–to name a few benefits. When you’re feeling overwhelmed take a quick walk, opt to have school or work in the backyard, or go water your plants. Your anxious mind will thank you.
3. take a deep breath and slow down
We’re all familiar with the great lie that we have to have perfect balance in our lives and be able to “do it all”, right? In fact, I wrote a whole post about the mental load of motherhood not that long ago. When we think we’re so effectively multitasking we’re actually doing harm to ourselves. Believe it or not, multitasking has actually been found to contribute to stress and mental fog.
…[our brains are] not wired to multitask well… When people think they’re multitasking, they’re actually just switching from one task to another very rapidly. And every time they do, there’s a cognitive cost in doing so.”
Earl Miller, neuroscientist at MIT
So slow down, take a deep breath, and focus on one thing at a time. Personally, when I’m feeling overwhelmed I like to take one thing I can control and focus on that for awhile. Typically I pick cleaning and organizing in my own home. I find that having a tidy and calm home helps my emotions to feel calm too.
