3 Tips For Coping With Stress & Overwhelm

I was in complete overwhelm this week! The IN tray over filled, emails unattended to from over a week ago, the list of to-do’s completely out of control… know the feeling? I bet you do. I was beside myself, not knowing where to start and was completely disoriented!

If you’re reading this post, then you’ve taken a time out from the stressors of your life… if only for just a moment or two. Good for you!

I know how difficult it can be to take even a small breather when you’ve got so many people depending on you and so many responsibilities pulling you in a million different directions. The pressure to get everything done can be overwhelming.

But taking time out for you—just you—is actually good for you, those close to you and everyone you come in to contact with.

I know what you’re thinking. If you take a break, your whole world is going to fall down around you. You’re probably imagining your to-do list growing into a mountain that you’ll never be able to climb back on top of after your so-called break. Am I right?

But I have a secret to share with you—one that’s going to transform the way you look at “me time” from now on and one that has the potential of changing your life for the better. Once you really grasp the implications of this bit of wisdom, you’re going to be empowered to take back control over your life. You’ll finally be able to enjoy some balance in your life and start really enjoying yourself instead of feeling completely stressed and anxious all the time.

You see, right now, you’re stuck in this vicious cycle of trying to please everyone, running out of energy, and then beating yourself up for not getting enough done or not making everyone in your life happy. How do I know that? Because I’ve been there—many times. You start to feel like everything in life is a chore, and a really, really hard and thankless one at that. It can feel really defeating.

I’ve got good news for you, though. You can stop that vicious cycle, and it’s not a chore. In fact, it’s a joy! It’s so simple and sounds too good to be true, but it really works. Ready to hear the one simple, too-good-to-be-true secret that is going to change the way you look at me time forever? Here it is:

It’s not only ok, but it’s necessary for you to take time just for you.

Yes—you read that right. It’s time to write yourself a prescription for alone time—every day. Yes, every single day of your life. You not only deserve, but you absolutely— without a doubt –need time just for you.

So now that you know the big secret, here are the three easy steps to making this technique work in your own life. It’s so easy, you won’t believe that it actually works until you try it yourself. That’s ok. Roll the dice (and even your eyes) anyway, and see what happens. What have you got to lose? Here goes:

1. Give yourself permission, or a prescription, to take time for yourself. Let go of any negative self-talk telling you that either: a) you don’t deserve it, or b) you don’t have time for it.
2. Take at least 15-30 minutes during the day to do something just for you.  It can be whatever you like, as long as it’s something you enjoy (and is good for you). My personal choice is meditation (click here for a free resource), but it doesn’t need to be yours, especially if your attempts at meditation seem to only make you more anxious. The only rule is that you have to be completely alone so that you’re not unintentionally attempting to please anyone else around you.
3. Repeat every single day. Do it religiously, no matter what! This is as important as eating well and getting good sleep. Make it “non-negotiable“!

There you have it. As an optional (and highly recommended 4th step), you could also keep a journal of your experiences. I know that you’re going to see many exciting results in every area of your life including feeling more peaceful, more relaxed, and happier, and I would love you to savour these experiences.

If you feel yourself slipping back into your old self-depriving habits, you can read this journal, and I promise—it will get you right back on track. Good luck!

Josie