How To Not Lose Your Mind

Your heart is racing, your breathing is shallow, and your mind can’t seem to focus on anything other than what’s stressing you out. Before you feel completely consumed by that feeling of overwhelm and panic, there are easy ways to help you quickly relieve yourself.Count your breathsThis is one of the fastest ways to help you calm down. Sit down in the quietest space you can find and start counting your breaths. Every time you exhale, it’s “1.” When you reach “5”, start over from “1.” In demonstrating this simple yet effective breathing technique, Dr. Andrew Weil suggests that you should not try to influence your breathing – it can be quick and shallow when you start – but just focus on counting it. Breathing activates the parasympathetic system (the organ responsible for relaxation) and calms your mind.Walk 10 minutes outsideWalking activates neurons in your brain that help you relax, and being outside helps you change your perspective quickly. Don’t worry about how fast you move; just go at whatever pace seems right (when you’re already stressed, you don’t want to push yourself more). But try to keep your torso straight and walk as you would if you feel confident – studies show that your posture affects the positive effects of walking.Schedule your stressThis may sound counter-intuitive, but give it a try: Give yourself some time to think about what’s causing you stress. In fact, schedule it on your calendar and say, “For the next 20 minutes, I’m going to think about why I feel overwhelmed.” Consider writing it down on paper (studies have shown it actually helps reduce anxiety). At the end of the “tense time,” you’re done. While your brain won’t forget about your stress, allowing it a certain amount of time to focus on it will make it easier to move on to something else.Focus on something goodRead more: how to get father gascoigne | In a leading study by Q&AI, 67% of people who consider themselves good at managing stress said they regularly focus on what is positive or good in their lives. When you’re in the middle of a stress storm, focusing on something good (no matter how small) may seem like a ridiculous idea, but give it a try.Practice some self-compassion (aka, give yourself a break!)Studies show that being kind to yourself makes you happier and less depressed, so when stress takes over, do something nice for yourself. The way you treat a friend who has told you they are stressed is how you should treat yourself. Eat something you enjoy, put a little extra free time in your schedule, take a yoga class to help you relax.Write down something you completed recentlyA lot of our daily stress is focused on overwhelming impending tasks. “You can do it!” Pep talk can seem silly when you’re feeling overwhelmed, so instead, write down a few things you’ve done or completed recently. It’s a good way to feel more productive, and it will make what’s to come more manageable. Read more: How to send multipart data from angular