Hey there 🤗
Everything in life needs to be balanced ⚖️ – wellness extends beyond mere physical health, it’s also your mental wellbeing. In a world filled with hustle, it’s easy to become entangled in work and overlook the breaks needed to relax and recharge ❤️🩹 So, in today’s chapter of the Navigating the New Year guide, we’ll be exploring stress management, self-care, and the art of finding balance in your daily life ☁️🌱
How to Manage Stress
Being human often involves grappling with stress, which can motivate you to get things done. And while it’s natural to experience high stress from work or painful life events, there are things you can learn to help you manage stress before it becomes too much. These tips may help:
- Spend Time Outdoors 🌳
Step outside. Spending time in nature, surrounded by sunshine and fresh air, is linked to better well-being 🌞 Even a few minutes can make a difference in how you feel!
*Photo from Pinterest
- Move Your Body 🏃🏻
👟 Whether it’s an intense workout at the gym, a long walk outside, or a yoga flow, getting your body moving is a great way to reduce stress! Working up a sweat will help clear your head, improve your mood, and give you a break from whatever is stressing you out.
*Photo from Pinterest
- Mindful Breathing 🫁
Breathe in slowly through your nose, filling your lungs with air. Hold your breath. And exhale slowly. 😮💨 Focusing on your breath helps to curb your body’s ‘fight or flight’ response and pulls your attention away from overwhelming thoughts😌
*Photo from Pinterest
- Let It Out 🗣️
Writing down your thoughts is a great outlet to unleash your emotions ✍🏻 Once it’s on paper (or a document on your computer), you can plan to resolve them with clarity. If you prefer to voice out your feelings, seek the company of a friend or a loved one 🫂
*Photo from Pinterest
Reminder 💌 - Talk to a doctor if you feel anxious or down for more than a few weeks or it starts to interfere with your daily life!!
❗Activity: Create Your Self-Care Checklist
😊 Make a list of activities that make you feel happy and relaxed. Check out our worksheet for some inspiration if you’d like! When you’re feeling overwhelmed, this checklist will be your personalised self-care guide 💗 – pick one or two activities, or carry out the whole routine!
Reminder 💌 - You don’t need to spend a whole day dedicated to self-care (of course, nothing wrong with wanting to!). But if you’re too busy or too tired, spending as little as 5 or 10 minutes a day on self-care is just enough for you to feel refreshed 💖
Finding Balance
🤹🏻We often find ourselves juggling a multitude of responsibilities – we’re driven to pursue education or career paths, simultaneously nurturing our bodies through exercise 🎽 and healthy practices 🥗. Beyond these, our lives are also filled with various activities, such as study sessions 🏫, social gatherings 🥂, daily chores 🧹and so much more – all while having fun and relaxation 💆🏻
Doesn’t it feel impossible?!
Thankfully, there are some practices that can provide you with balance in your daily life!
Reminder 💌 - You are a human 🧍🏻and not a machine 🤖
- Schedule Breaks 🗓️
Burnout, defined as a syndrome “resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed” is now an official medical diagnosis by the World Health Organisation. It manifests as physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion that makes getting work done difficult. So, intentionally schedule breaks throughout your day to prevent burnout⏲️An effective, restorative break is a well-planned space where you take care of your body and mind during your workday, not mindless scrolling through social media.
- Prioritise
What is important to you? Identify your priorities and allocate time accordingly. Whether it’s work (or school), relationships, or personal pursuits, having a clear sense of priority can help you balance demands.
- Learn to Say No
🙅🏻♀️ It isn’t always easy, but setting boundaries is key for your peace of mind. Saying no is a powerful way to set clear boundaries in relationships. These boundaries communicate your standards and expectations for how you wish to be treated, contributing to healthy relationship dynamics and mental well-being. Additionally, the ability to say no can limit stress. Overcommitting or agreeing to tasks you’re not interested in can lead to heightened stress levels, adversely impacting both your health and overall well-being.
Reminder 💌 - A work life balance is not one-size-fits-all. It’s about doing what works for you to feel your best!
❗Challenge Yourself
Here are the rules:
- Download and print the ‘a balanced day’ worksheet
- Fill in the daily to-do list according to each category
- Stick to what you’ve planned for the day
Reminder 💌 - Each day will look different. As an example, maybe today is all about being productive and getting work done before going out with friends, but tomorrow is mostly for resting and practising self-care.
Click here for the printable worksheet!
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