3 easy ways to stop feeling overwhelmed
At the time of writing this, guess what? I’m feeling bloody overwhelmed. My overactive mind is ticking away like a bomb on Looney Tunes, about to explode and blast that poor duck’s nose round to the back of his head.
But that’s typical isn’t it? I’m part of the gen-Z/millennial generation drowning in constant self-imposed, burnout, and I need to do myself a favour, have a cup of tea, and get away from the screens for a hot sec.
However, in true gen Z style, I’m going to write an article about it instead using one of my beloved Mac screens. Mm mmm – chef’s kiss.
All jokes aside, I love reading articles like this, so I thought it was a good idea to write one. They’re short, quick, easy to digest and take less than 5 mins to read. Perfect for an overwhelmed busy bee like yourself! I wanted to share the wealth of some of the tips that I’ve actually used myself recently, to unload my brain from constant stimulation, and help myself find a bit more zen when I need it. Which is basically always.
So here we go, 3 easy ways to stop feeling overwhelmed…
- Turn off the bastard notifications
I read this piece of advice so many times before I actually realised this could apply to me.
My boyfriend Jack often used to say the amount of notifications popping up on my phone made him feel sick. It was a constant barrage of (often unnecessary and irrelevant) information, that went on for years. Until one day I realised, maybe the reason I have the attention span of a nit is because my phone goes off every 30 seconds with breaking news that an Australian reality star I’ve never heard of just got done for drink driving? Perhaps?
So, I went into my iPhone settings and went through those notification permissions with a fine-tooth comb and GOT RID OF ALL THE SHITE.
No more notifications from apps that have no positive impact on my life, no more “We miss you!” from games I don’t remember ever playing, no more Twitter notifications alerting me to things Chrissy Teigan has said and everyone’s kicking up a fuss about. Yes, I care, a bit – but only when I choose to. GODAMMIT.
2. Buy yourself a water bottle that you enjoy drinking out of
Bear with me on this one. Drinking water, for me, is not just about hydration. It’s a ritual. It’s a moment of fika amongst the busy happenings of my day that deserves relaxation and quiet contemplation. It’s calming, it’s cooling, it’s also totally necessary for basic survival.
Some people really struggle with drinking enough water, but having a water bottle that you like and enjoy drinking out of actually makes a huge difference. Call me mad, but it’s true.
Drinking enough water can actually have a big impact on stress levels, and it can apparently reduce feelings of stress. Studies have shown that dehydration leads to higher cortisol levels—the stress hormone—making it harder to deal with everyday issues.
This is your own personal drinking vessel. A source of eternally youthful skin, a spike in energy when you get to the 3pm i-cannot-be-fucked‘s, your potion of plentiful needs (if you get the sims reference, ur a gem).
It is also your reusable diamond that can help our planet get one step closer to binning off single use plastics FOR GOOD. Seriously, stop buying shitty single use plastic bottles. Do not pretend you love dolphins and seals and anything else that lives in the sea if you buy plastic bottles of Evian every time you’re a bit thirsty in the shop.
If you need some inspiration, here’s a link to an article from New York Magazine with the people’s choice/best water bottles you can buy on Amazon, according to hyper-enthusiastic reviewers. AKA the best people on the internet.
3. Wake up half an hour earlier and do something nice for yourself in that time
I go through phases with the old morning routine. Sometimes my body clock naturally sets to 6am and I temporarily feel like Michelle Obama, other weeks I’m barely up by 7:30 (I need to be at the office for 8:30 on weekdays currently) and I’ve had to master the art of getting ready for work in 17 minutes. Eyebrows take a priority, mascara is often abandoned due to puffy eyes and a general lack of motivation.
By giving yourself an extra 30 minutes in the morning, not just as in extra time to get ready, but a deliberate 30-minute slot for doing something you enjoy very first thing, you can create a totally different mindset and mood for the rest of the day.
Imagine a week where the first conscious 30 mins of your day was spent reading your book, watching your favourite series with a cup of peppermint tea or your morning coffee, lying on the sofa cuddling your dog, practicing your handstands against the kitchen wall, or dancing around to Shania Twain for a full half an hour – the world is your weird oyster.
These three tips may be obvious, they may have been repeated online over a million times each, they may be “not for you”. But I dare you to try just one of them, and see if it makes you feel less like poo warmed up.
Please leave a comment below letting everyone know how life changing you thought these tips were. Or better yet, leave a comment with a tip that you’ve implemented that has helped you to feel less overwhelmed. Massive Orange Book welcomes a community of lovely helpful MOBers!!!
Thanks for reading.
P x
