It’s hard to maintain your composure when you’re stressed beyond belief and the world feels like it’s spinning out of control. Thoughts racing around in your head, muscles tensing and tightening. You can hear and feel your mind and body telling you to take a beat, to slow down. But, sometimes slowing down or finding a relaxing, comfortable place to quiet your mind is impossible, especially when you’re busy taking care of your children, your partner and your home – making sure that your kids and family members have everything they need, all the chores and tasks on your to-do list are completed, and your house is in tiptop shape. When it seems like more and more responsibilities are ending up on your plate and there’s no time for you to practice self-care, that’s exactly when you need to make the time for yourself, even if it’s only a few minutes here and there.
BREATHE
“Breathing is the number one and most effective technique for reducing anger and anxiety quickly”. There are different breathing techniques that you can try, including the 4-7-8 breathing technique, which is also known as the “relaxing breath.” You breathe in for 4 seconds, hold the breath for 7 seconds, then exhale for 8 seconds.
CREATE A SELF-CARE MORNING RITUAL
If you’re someone who’s off and running from the minute you wake up, you might want to try waking up a little earlier than usual and creating a self-care morning ritual. This can include meditating, doing yoga and/or journaling – getting the thoughts in your head down on paper and out of your mind before your day officially begins. By having time dedicated solely to yourself in the morning before anyone can get to you, you’ll have readied yourself to face the day ahead of you, prepared for whatever comes your way.
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE (ALONE) TIME YOU HAVE
Have 10 minutes of free time? It might not be enough time to truly make a dent in any project or task that you have to complete, but you can use the tiny window to recharge. Listen to music that cheers you up. Heck, play your favorite song over and over again if that makes you happy. Listening to music can have a very calming effect on your body and mind, and that’s exactly what you’re craving – calm. Embrace activities that fill you with joy, especially ones that don’t involve a lot of effort on your part.
WIND DOWN AT THE END OF THE DAY
Schedule alone time to light some candles, take a warm bath and read a book that has been in your TBR (To Be Read) pile for a long time. By allowing your body and mind to rest and relax, letting the stressors of your day go, you’ll be able to calm yourself and wind down – clearing your mind before bed, so that you can sleep without thinking about everything that you need to do the next day. And even if you have a ton of stuff on your to-do list for tomorrow, having a morning routine will help you address anything else that pops up.