Sometimes you might find yourself feeling like your life is spinning out of your control. Sometimes, things just happen and sh*t hits the fan.
Last week I was going through my own little personal sh*t storm and I was convinced that it was without a doubt, the worst week of my life. It just seemed like one thing kept going wrong after another. And another, and another. Now, I realize that things weren’t as bad as I’ve thought (they never are, are they?). I also realized how important it is to stay strong and positive during those tough times, not just for yourself, but also for your partner/family.
It was that experience that inspired today’s post. Sometimes an unexpected challenge or an obstacle might come your way, and you find yourself stressing out, worrying and not knowing what to do. Today, I’ll talk about a set of habits that will help you get through those tough and challenging times.
STAY PRESENT
When things don’t go your way, it’s easy to start feeling anxious about the future- this is why it’s so important to focus on the present moment. Easier said than done, I know. For many of us, worrying is just in our nature. We think and obsess about all the things that could go wrong and we live in this mind-made prison. Worrying about tomorrow steals away the joy of today, so forget the things that are out of your control, and focus on those things that you can control. One of the simple ways of staying present is telling yourself “now I am ___” and concentrate on what you’re doing at that moment.
TAKE A BREAK
Sometimes when things get really hectic and I start feeling like I’m starting to lose control over everything, I take a mental health day. I turn off my phone, I turn off my laptop and try not to worry about anything else. I meditate, do some light exercise, prepare myself a nice meal, read a book. I don’t want to say that I allow myself to feel sorry for myself for a day, but sometimes all you need is a little break in order to see things from a different perspective.
FORGIVE YOURSELF (AND OTHERS)
This is a big one. When sh*t hits the fan, it’s very easy to start blaming yourself, or others for your problems. It’s very important that despite whatever it is that you’re going through, you forgive both yourself and anyone else you might be blaming. I think that we all tend to be way too hard on ourselves, overanalyzing every situation that might have played out differently if we made a different decision, etc. This is why you need to forgive yourself for the mistakes you think you’ve made. When you’re under a lot of stress you also might find yourself wanting to take your anger or frustration out on someone close- like your partner. During tough times, it’s important to have a good support system and last thing you need to do is getting into an argument with someone close. If you need to let off of some steam and get rid of all that extra energy and emotions- go for a run.
MAKE A PLAN
Rather than sitting and worrying about what’s going to happen next, sit down with a piece of paper and a pen and make a plan. Whatever it is you might be going through; whether it be related to your finances, your job, school, your family- the first thing you need to do is create a plan on how to tackle your problem.
KEEP UP WITH YOUR ROUTINE
Last year my mom ended up in a hospital and I had to not only take over some of her responsibilities but also worry about her getting surgery on top of everything while also working and taking care of my family, driving around all day, going home then going back to the hospital. I felt like I was about to get a nervous breakdown and thought that I’d end up in a hospital myself. One of the reasons why I think this happened was because I wasn’t keeping up with my usual routine. I didn’t meditate, I didn’t get my daily workouts in, I ate crappy food, I didn’t keep up with my gratitude journal- I didn’t do any of those things that help me stay sane, happy and motivated. I think that this is why keeping up with your regular routine as much as possible is very important during stressful times. Make sure that you’re not spending most of your time on the couch, make sure that your sink is clean, your laundry is done, your bed is made- these are all things that will make you feel much better while you’re trying to work through your problems.
How do you deal with stressful situations? Do you have a specific system or a set of habits?