The year is almost coming to an end and you have barely had a minute to yourself. From family, to church, to work, to personal goals, you’ve had to carry it all. And right now it feels like everything is weighing you down. You are exhausted and you need a break, but you can’t stop. Everyone’s counting on you. If this feels like you, this article presents practical techniques that you can use to regain a sense of calmness and enhance your emotional wellbeing.

Identify The Cause

You cannot manage what you are not aware of. Take a few minutes to reflect on everything that is going on in your life right now. What area of your life are you struggling with right now? What is making it difficult for you to cope well? What would make life less exhausting for you? Who can make life less exhausting for you? Make sure to be as specific as possible in your exploration.

Regulate

Find something that soothes you and relieves any stress or tension you may have. You can experiment with a number of activities to find the one that feels most pleasurable for you. Some commonly used methods include: taking a warm or a cold bath, drinking a cup of your favorite tea, engaging in breathwork, meditating, journaling, and taking a walk.

Evaluate Your Current Coping Mechanisms

We all have different ways of coping with challenges. Some are maladaptive, while others are adaptive. Maladaptive ways of coping are self destructive. They include things like binge drinking, smoking, impulse shopping, and overeating. Adaptive ways are those that help us cope well with a difficult situation. For example, talking to a friend, seeking therapy, journaling, painting, or drawing. Think of how you are coping with your current situation. Are your methods adaptive or maladaptive? Maladaptive coping mechanisms tend to worsen the situation. If your current coping mechanisms are maladaptive, create an exhaustive list of these mechanisms and for each, identify a healthy way of coping that you can replace it with.

Breathe

Breathwork is a very powerful technique that you can use to regulate your nervous system and restore a sense of calmness in your life. While there are numerous types of breathwork, my personal favorite is taking three deep intentional breaths while making the exhales longer than the inhales. If you do not feel relaxed after taking the three deep breaths, you can continue until you experience a sense of relief. Please note that this is not a one-time thing. It is something you practice consistently every time you are feeling overwhelmed.

Intentionally Schedule Time To Rest

Rest is not something we must earn. It is something we must create time for in order to relax and recharge. If you are constantly overworking yourself and not taking time to rest, you are exposing yourself to productivity and health issues. The irony is that these issues could cost you the very things you are working so hard to maintain, and could be the reason you are feeling overwhelmed.

Conclusion

Our bodies are always communicating with us through our emotions. When we learn to listen to our bodies, we become better equipped to tackle the challenges of daily life. Our bodies tell us when we are biting more than we can chew or when we need extra support from our loved ones or colleagues. Sometimes we need to look within us to identify the things that are creating and maintaining our emotional difficulties.