Your best tips to not let yourself be completely overwhelmed by Life and it’s problems please?

[anewbook]

There’s a colleague at work who has been going through a tough time with the way her line manager has been treating her. HR have got involved and it has been a very stressful time for her. Despite that, she is able to put on a brave face, laugh and joke at lunchtimes etc and generally keep strong. I admire that strength.

I am struggling again with so many problems in every aspect of my life. I feel as though I am wrapped in a dark cloud and there’s no possibility to enjoy moments as I just feel so weighed down.

So, I’d love it if people could share their best strategies to not let yourself be completely devoured by life’s problems. Especially if you are someone like my colleague- how do you do it?

Things that usually help me:

• decluttering
• going for a walk
• journal

Interested in the “How not to give a f*” books but never read them.

What are yours?

I have had a lot of problems in the last few years. Here are some of the things that have helped.

1. I talk to my GP about once a month. She has been absolutely amazing. She always makes time for me and always has some practical suggestions, many of which have been very helpful.
2. One of my GP's suggestions was to try meditating using the Headspace app. Meditation sounds dumb but it really works. There are other apps.
3. Work on friendships. There were a few friends who I liked but hardly ever saw or talked to. I've tried to get to know them better in the last year.
4. Batch cooking. Mon, Tue and Wed are all very busy days for me. I try to batch cook at the weekend so I can just reheat something on those days. In that way I carve out some relaxation time for myself.
5. Point 4 can be extended more widely to 'planning'. At some point, consider the week ahead and work out where the difficulties are and try to mitigate them. In my case, batch cooking has helped a lot.
6. Delegate. I have developed a weekly rota for the most important household chores. It shares the load and Saves me from begging/nagging the family to help.
7. New hobby. I've always wanted to do something arty and have found Zentangles . Love it! Doesn't take much time. It's important to do something that gives you pleasure, other than socialising, watching tv etc

There's probably more but that is what I can think of for now.

Fascinating thread!

Dancing to music you like (in private) even if it's just bopping sitting down if stand dancing is a struggle.

@StroppyTop I also wish there was a like button!
So many fantastic ideas here. Thank you so much to everyone ❤️

My strategy is to stack healthy habits. It doesn't need to be a dramatic lite overhaul you can't stick with. Small changes.

I have a lot of daily stress with a disabled child.

I don't drink alcohol - this just wasn't good for me, too easy for a glass to turn into 3. I'm relieved it's no longer part of my life.

Then when I have a bad day and at the end of the week, no matter how tired I feel I go to restorative yoga. Never ever has it not made me feel better.

I go to a sound bath every two weeks to calm my nervous system.

I learnt to breath properly, into my abdomen and I learned techniques for stress.

I eat lots of fresh ingredients and don't reward myself with junk.

Little by little you adopt these practices. It takes time.

Yin Yoga - a very slow paced, more meditative approach to yoga & sound therapy, a game changer for me, I do several types of yoga but Yin with a bit of sound therapy and is the one I do for my mental state. Tomorrow is world meditation day, I’m off to a free event, check out if you have any near you. I still find it very difficult to switch off to practise at home, but an hour at the beginning of the week helps set me up. I other yoga as well and there’s always a relaxation at the end which is also beneficial. There’s so many yoga teachers about now, it’s worth trying a few different instructors to get one you gel with. It doesn’t stop me over thinking at other times but it gives me a break and I am getting better at letting situations wash over me.

I have been accessing headspace on Netflix, learning about meditation and also using the guided meditations. I am intrigued now to try the sound one posted earlier.

I love vinyasa flow yoga, not so keen on yin but persevering with it as I do feel the benefits after. Also experienced my first sound bath which was wonderful.

I eat really well, but forgive myself when I just want something beige.

I try to walk every day and take a longer route, through the park on my way home from work in the summer.

I really try to apply the idea of not reacting negatively to stress, as it rarely improves the situation.

And I try to be at peace with myself for who I am. I have spent most of my life trying to be less. Dieting so that my body doesn't take up too much space in this world. Trying not to burden others with my problems, whilst I happily support them with theirs. Quietening that feeling of impostor syndrome, instead believing that I am not just good enough but actually fantastic.

Take one day at a time. When our head is in the past or the future, you can't live in the present (today), which is the gift. Takes time to retrain your brain to this way of living. It works and really helps. Pen and paper/or phone and E-Notepad for emptying my head out of the rubbish in it is also another good tool

I learned transcendental meditation through the charity The Meditation Trust. Life changing.

This is a brilliant bread, thank you

Thread!! Hrrrm. Thread.

Hot yoga.
Saying no when you’ve reached your limit
Only being in contact with people where there is mutual love and genuine care.

I have resigned from my post as I’m so overwhelmed with life. Nothing to do with issues at work. I’ve been fortunate to have been part of the most wonderful team. I’ve never given any thought to what I mean to my colleagues (or anyone else) as I’ve been battling through personal stuff. Two of them cried when I told them I was leaving. That moved me immensely. So, overwhelmed, remember that you do matter.