Stress is something that can ruin your day, affect your body, and leave you feeling worn out. This is why it should be avoided whenever it can be. It may not be possible to get rid of stress completely, but there are ways to keep it from causing you anxiety. Keep reading for 7 ways to stay in the moment when stress is trying to ruin your day.
Pay Attention
One aspect of staying in the moment is paying attention to your senses. When you are having a difficult time and need to take a break, concentrate on your senses. Note to yourself what you can smell, taste, hear, and see. If it is hard for you to keep your thoughts clear, take a few minutes and write these things down in a journal, since this will cause you to have to take a minute to relax.
Take Your Time
When you feel like life is going by too fast or you have too much to do, just take a moment for yourself. There is no reason that you have to get everything done without taking a minute for yourself. You must take time for you, even if it is a moment here and there. Set aside a couple minutes to drink out of your favorite mug or do something else you enjoy. A small break might be able to improve your mood and help you understand that everything is going to be okay.
Talk to Someone
If you ever feel like you need help to stay in the moment, or the things you are trying are not working, you may want to talk to a psychologist. They will be able to talk to you about what you are facing and offer advice and suggestions on what to do about it. In some cases, they may even be able to prescribe medicines that could help you focus or alleviate other symptoms that you are experiencing.
It is important to note that getting therapy when you feel like it could help you is something you should do for yourself. Help is available to you anytime you are ready to get the support you need. A therapist will be able to explain how mindfulness works, describe the best way to stay in the moment, and help you with other types of therapies as well, like the one described in this article.
Finish Tasks Completely
When you are stressed, it can be tough to slow down and concentrate on just one task at a time. However, it is important to do just that. You should do your best to finish one thing all the way before you work on something else. This can prevent you from being absent-minded about certain tasks, and you may also be able to get more accomplished. When you can slow down just a bit to finish a chore before starting the next, it may also give you something to focus on. This can help with mindfulness as well.
Do Something You Like
Another thing that might combat stress is to do something that you want to do. Again, this doesn’t have to be something big or take a lot of time, but it should be something that makes you happy. For instance, you may want to plan a date with your significant other or watch an episode of your favorite tv show. Taking just a little bit of time to plan to do something you enjoy can improve your mood and allow you to be able to get other things done as well. It may even help you get through your work or chores faster.
Get Some Sleep
Sleeping is essential for your body and it helps your brain be able to function properly as well. You will need the right amount of sleep each night when you are trying to keep stress at bay. An adult should get anywhere from 6-8 hours of sleep a night, so do your best to make this a priority. You can set a bedtime for yourself, which you should try to meet as often as you can. This may help you get the sleep you need.
Limit Worrying
Lastly, you should stop worrying as much as possible. For many, they may not be able to stop worrying completely, so when you are trying to lessen your stress levels, you may simply need to reframe. You can tell yourself that you don’t have time to worry during the day and that you need to save your worrying for a specific time at night. Then by the time you told yourself you are allowed to worry, you probably have something better to do instead.
If you find that worrying keeps you up at night, you should consider keeping a journal. This will allow your thoughts to get on paper, so they are not stuck in your head. This is something that works well for some.
About Author:
Marie Miguel has been a writing and research expert for nearly a decade, covering a variety of health- related topics. Currently, she is contributing to the expansion and growth of a free online mental health resource with BetterHelp.com. With an interest and dedication to addressing stigmas associated with mental health, she continues to specifically target subjects related to anxiety and depression.