Please tell me your best stress reducing / management tips!

[Tristesser]

I'm at one of those life stages where too much is happening at once. Think three big stressful life events instead of one. I have to say, I am not managing the stress well. I have a feeling like something is sitting on my chest all the time and am in a constant spiral of overwhelm and panic. I can only seem to think negatively rather than positively, imagining worst case outcomes. I can't calm myself enough to start yoga and meditation though I want to. I have so many balls to juggle at the same time work work and childcare. What do you do to manage it when all the things become too much? I will try it all!

Bump

Think three big stressful life events instead of one

Do you need to talk to a professional? Therapy?

Sorry to hear you're having a tough time. To a certain extent I think it depends what the stressors are. However, I would generally say delegation and asking for help!

Hi OP

It sounds like a really tough time. Can I ask what relaxes you? Reading? Walking? Exercise? Crafting?

If you have something that you know helps your wellbeing, try to set aside some time for it every day (or most days). Even if it’s just 15-20 minutes. My job is sometimes very stressful, and setting aside some time to exercise does me the world of good, even if it sometimes feels like a hassle. It’s good to keep time aside for you, as it helps to feel like you have some control over something.

Also, how long do you envision these stressful events lasting for? Is it possible to have something to look forward to, like an ‘end goal’? Booking a short trip away, or a spa day, or even just planning a nice day out to your favourite place in a few weeks’ time?

Finally, vent! On MN, or to someone in real life. I think sometimes it really helps.

Thanks so much for these replies. I do try to set aside time to myself but I can't relax, it's so frustrating. I envision it lasting for at least the next three months but that's really helpful to imagine an end date, like it's for this period of time and then I will treat myself, I will breathe!

I lie down and listen to a non-sleep deep relaxation video, it's not like trying to do meditation alone.

i have a lot going on right now too, my 2 best stress busters atm are

1. waking up before everyone else and having a cup of tea/time to recoup before the day
2. allowing myself ‘worry time’. I learned this on a cbt course, you give yourself 5 min to get down your worries/stresses on paper, draw a line down the middle and on one side ‘real’ and the other side ‘hypothetical’. It really helps to get it all out of my head and onto paper. Also I’ve been doing this for a few years now, and it’s remarkable how few of the hypothetical worries materialised or when they did they were nothing like as bad as I had envisaged.

If there is an end date to the stuff that’s going on I would plan something nice to look forward to as well.

@Boshi thanks those ideas sound perfect, I'll start them both tomorrow!