Save Your Sanity.

Photo by Joseph Kellner on Unsplash.

Are you feeling stressed or overwhelmed? Sometimes we allow ourselves to be frazzled by the small stuff around us. However, when things seem to be spiraling out of control and taking you with them, step back and ask yourself, “Will this matter in 100 years? Here’s a quick guide on how to keep your wits when everyone else is losing theirs.

Not Everything Requires a Reaction.

Stay away from people who trigger your insanity. You do not have to throw stones at every barking dog. Not everything requires your reaction or response. A rude driver on the road, an overbearing relative making ridiculous demands or a cranky cashier at the supermarket, don’t let them drag you into their drama.

You don’t need to race with every fast driver out there. Allow them to whiz past you and instead concentrate on keeping yourself safe. After all, you are the only sane person on the road. As for your overbearing relative, let your foot down. Let them know you don’t appreciate their behavior. And on any given day, refuse to let them get under your skin and ruin your day.

Let Go of the Need to Control.

The need for control is what drives most of us to near insanity. It’s madness to want and even demand that things go exactly as we deem, because life is hardly picture perfect. There are things that are beyond our control, therefore, obsessing about them won’t help.

Instead, drape yourself in the Serenity Prayer. Ask for wisdom to know the difference between what is within your control and what is not. Also, leave room for surprises. You never know, you might actually love it. It is a flexibility that gives you the chance to pivot and still land on your feet.

Schedule Me Time.

When you are juggling several things at the same time, it is easy to self-neglect. Rest feels like sin when you have a lot on your plate. It can be tempting to let go of your me time in favor of other seemingly productive endeavors.

Life coach and author Cheryl Richardson writes in Take Time for Your Life, “Knowing what makes you feel good and building that into your daily schedule will raise your spirits, keep your attitude upbeat and protect your overall health.”

Create Support Systems.

Create support systems. Good support systems sustain life even when you are at your worst. It could be like asking a relative to pick your child up from school when you have to work late. Or hire a casual nanny to take care of you when you are ill.

Rope in your friends, parents and siblings as part of your support system. Often, they are happy to help for free. As part of your support system, develop a healthy relationship with a cab driver you trust and also an errand service that can deliver meals or medicine to your door or directly to your office.

Practice Deep Breathing.

When you are anxious and agitated, you tend to take rapid and shallow breaths. This only agitates you further because the body is already stressed, and short of breath is a sure death sign to the mind. Therefore, you panic even further and for longer periods.

Counter this with breathing deeply. Take a deep breath and hold for five seconds, then breathe out. Repeat this motion three times, and you will feel yourself calming down. Oxygen in the brain brings a lot of clarity.

Research has proven that how we breathe not only reduces stress levels but also reduces high blood pressure.

Put In Some Margins.

Quit winging it on hope and a prayer. If you find yourself rushing from one thing to another, try to create margins between tasks. Make a plan. For example, when going for an appointment that is 30 minutes away, leave 45 minutes earlier. This way, if you run into traffic, you can still make it on time.

The same applies to creating a financial emergency fund, which you can access should you need it. Say, for a parent’s sudden medical bill or to cushion you during a sudden job loss. You can’t just hope and make wishes; you need to create a tangible and executable plan. It saves you from needless migraines.

Put Some Fun into It.

Life can often seem full of routine and humdrum. Therefore, take the initiative to break that monotony. Allow yourself a few harmless daily indulgences to take the sting out of the day. It could be something as little as a warm bath or curling up on your sofa with a good book at the end of a long day.

Learn a new hobby or try out a new recipe. The point is experiencing life and savoring it. Cheryl Richardson adds, “Most of us experience very little fun or adventure in our lives. We save it for vacations or special holidays. But fun is a necessary part of a whole life and has a positive impact on your health and well-being. Building fun and adventure into your life on a regular basis will help you to take life less seriously and best of all, will create the kind of memories that last a lifetime.” ♥.