Our lives can be filled with stressful periods, and it’s important to know how to deal with them when they strike. Maybe you’ve just moved in with your partner and you’re getting used to living together? Maybe you’ve just become a parent for the first time? Or maybe a relative is ill, and you’re facing the possibility that you’ll have to go on without them in the near future?
And these are all huge stress triggers, which means now’s the time to invest a little in stress busting preparation.
We can learn a lot from those moments when the world feels like it’s swallowing us up, but the most important lesson is knowing you’ll bounce back from this. After all, you knew something stressful could happen, and you’ve put blocks in place to help you deal with it. And you can take inspiration from the points below for when you feel like you need a bit of future foresight.
Practice Stress Busting Techniques
Stress can be busted quite efficiently when you know how to fight it! And there are a lot of techniques that can help you to stay calm and not worry too much about an event you’ve been through or a decision you have to make. Even just taking a few minutes to do some deep breathing can really help you to calm down, and focus on something other than what you’re worried about.
One of the best things to do right now is take a step back. You don’t want to overload yourself by looking up the problem you’re facing, as this can make your mind and heart race. It can leave you thinking about all the different things that could happen long into the night, which will cause you to miss out on crucial sleep, and make it harder to refocus your mind in the morning as well.
Have Some Financial Foresight
Your finances are always going to be a big worry. But when you know you’ve got a lot to deal with, you’re going to be spending a lot more to help reduce the stress on your shoulders. After all, if you’ve got a new house/mortgage to pay for, or a new family member to feed and clothe, your bank account is going to feel strain like never before!
Which is why it’s key to always focus on your finances in times of trouble. But instead of worrying about a lack of income, think about what you can do to boost this steam. Maybe you could find a couple of hours in your schedule to start a side hustle? Maybe you could use the internet to start making some extra cash online? You have quite a few options here, so take some time to explore them.
Similarly, if you’re needing to cut back on work hours because of a family emergency, or maybe even a loss of a loved one, see what compensation you’re entitled to. Work with services such as a good wrongful death attorney to get a cash injection that’ll really help in your current situation, as well as for months to come.
Set Some Clear Boundaries with Others
When you know you’re going to get stressed, or you know you’re prone to stressing out and getting ill because of it, it’s important to set boundaries with those around you. For example, if you need to be around to take care of someone at home, but your boss wants you to work extra hours, an important boundary here would be to determine your availability. Don’t let yourself panic over two people needing you at once – figure out who is your priority, and set clear, actionable boundaries with the other person.
And this is the kind of principle you need to apply everywhere when times are tough. If you can’t go out with friends, don’t let them guilt you into missing a dinner or a club night. If you can’t stay after hours, take a deep breath if someone asks you to stay, and don’t feel bad for walking away for your own health and wellbeing. These are all essential boundaries that we’d love to have in place at all times, but if you’re currently dealing with a lot of stress, they’re the baseline you need to rely on.
If you’re thinking about upcoming stressful times, get to know ways to cope before the trouble really hits. It’ll help you to come out the other side feeling just fine!
