How To Cope When You're Stressed Out And Your Schedule Is BOOKED
Being busy is overwhelming.
Anthony Tran on Unsplash Living life can be a total mess. I spend most of my days running from one obligation to another. Part of the reason I'm so busy is, of course, my own fault. I run from class to hop on the computer to write for my internship (while sitting at my other job), change 10 minutes before clocking in and work until about 10 p.m. every night.
Eat, sleep, repeat.
And of course, I'd like to have a social life. So I promise to grab a drink with a friend even though I honestly don't have the time. Sometimes, I do my homework in the morning just so I can be "refreshed" after 4 hours of sleep.
I know for a fact this isn't just me. Moms run from their 9 to 5 jobs to the grocery store, whip up dinner and then hit up a second job only to wake up at 6 in the morning to drive their kids to a soccer tournament the next day. Dads rush from one event to the next, stopping home to drop off kids from school. All adults scramble to make it to family events, romantic dates, friendly drinks and hangover brunches. It's a total mess.
We watch this happen like it's a horror movie with an obvious jump scare coming. Our calendars are marked, scratched out, rewritten, rescheduled and marked again. Google calendars fill up with interviews, appointments and staff meetings. The stress piles up, and, soon enough, you feel like even the smallest thing is going to break you.
How do you make it through the days where you barely have enough time to breathe, let alone find some peace? How do you reclaim control over your life?
Well, I've found 6 ways to help cope with the stress of everyday life.
1. Just say no.
Your friends can see you burning out in front of them, and any good friend won't judge you for saying no when you're busy or just drained. We get it. We're all busy! Plus, who knows? If you cancel, maybe you're taking some stress off of your friends' shoulders, too. We all want to stay in touch, but sometimes it's better to take a break. Rescheduling plans is always an option.
2. Take some alone time.
You only have 10 minutes? Perfect. Jot down some feelings you're having. If you have an hour, throw on the newest episode of that show you love and try out an adult coloring book. Go get a pedicure. Do something, and do it alone. Child care can be found, but, if you're completely burned out, you'll be worse off in the long run.
3. Stay organized.
Have a plan of action. I love writing out my schedule and keeping track of things. But I'm very particular about my calendars, so I rely on a bullet journal because it's the only planner I'll consistently use. Desktop calendars or hanging calendars are great, too! Above all, you want to know what's coming up to emotionally and mentally prepare for it.
4. Do as much as you can the night before.
Set yourself up for the best outcome, and do as much as you can stand the night before to prepare for the next day. This will make getting ready quicker and less painful, allowing you to get a jump start on your responsibilities and get ahead of the game. Make your lunch or set out your clothes. Any of those small steps will make you feel infinitely better about the day ahead of you.
5. Block off one day a week (when you can).
Sometimes, when I'm busy, I just feel this intense need to have one day with no obligations. To take a day and lounge around, forget putting makeup on, do a face mask or take a bath. Don't look ahead at how crazy the week is going to be. Just relax and take full advantage of the day.
6. Treat yourself.
Take yourself out for ice cream or indulge in a lunch out. You're going crazy being busy. If someone doesn't treat you to a fun time, treat yourself! You just need to catch a break.
Beth El Fattal is a writer who covers astrology, pop culture and relationships topics.