Marina Khidekel* has collected advice from busy, successful people on how they arm themselves with a few coping strategies when they begin to feel overextended.
There’s a phrase that Thrive’s founder, Arianna Huffington often says: “Stress is inevitable, but cumulative stress is avoidable.”
Since we all have days where our to-do list is a mile long and we feel completely in over our heads, it’s important to arm ourselves with tools to get ahead of the stress before it becomes cumulative and leads to burnout.
We asked our Thrive community to share with us the small ways they get ahead of stress before it overwhelms them. Which of these strategies will you try?
Nadine Collins, spiritual wellness coach, speaker, and author:
Before bed, I close my eyes and visualise what I want my next day to be. I then write out a complete list of all the things I need to accomplish.
The next day, I wake up open to any new ideas that I need to do that day.
Doing this one exercise eliminates the feeling of: ‘Oh my goodness, I forgot that I need to do this today’.
Instead, it just allows me to refresh my list if necessary.
Nausheen Saumtally, empowerment speaker and trainer:
To get ahead of stress, I implement the 3-3-5 breathing exercise in my daily life.
It instantly relaxes my body and allows me to access all the ideas and tools I have to move forward and be productive.
You simply breathe in through your nose for three counts, hold it in for three counts, and then release it through the mouth for five counts.
It’s simple, highly effective, and can be done anywhere at any time.
Anitha Balaraj, executive coach:
I make an effort to close my eyes and notice my bodily sensations, especially how my gut and neck feel.
I feel stress especially in my gut area and in my neck and shoulders. It can sometimes feel as though the whole world is weighing down on my shoulders.
Since I had a traumatic accident that resulted in a bad neck strain at the start of my career, I know stress lodges in my neck and gut.
By scanning my body, I can take a moment to acknowledge where I’m holding tension, and then take a break when needed.
Marci Brockmann, author, podcaster, artist, and educator:
When I know I have a very busy, stressful day ahead, I make sure I leave gaps of time in my scheduled bookings so I can have a little quiet downtime.
I’ll make some mint tea, sit quietly and breathe, and play a mindless video game on my phone to give my brain a rest.
I always feel better afterward and am able to take on the next appointment with calm and balance.
Natalie Brobin, writer:
I head to the beach before I get too stressed out. I am a writer, so I have a flexible schedule, and I live five minutes from the beach.
It always helps me get ahead of stress so it doesn’t overwhelm me down the line.
Kevin Ervin Kelley, architect:
There are days when I reach the end of my rope, but my number one strategy for getting ahead of stress before it overwhelms me is this: I get a haircut.
It’s bizarre, I know, but most of the time I feel stressed because things seem overwhelming, disorganised, and out of control.
Getting a haircut is actionable and feels like I’m getting something finished, tamed, and under control.
It takes me away from the office and puts me in another chair to see the world.
It also keeps me from using my cell phone, laptop, calculator, pens, or hands while in the barber’s chair, and allows me to talk to an objective person — the hairstylist — outside of my ordinary world.
Simply put, it feels like I’m doing something good for myself and taking care of myself.
I hope that some of this advice will help you to keep thriving.
*Marina Khidekel is the Head of Content Development at Thrive Global. Previously, she held senior editorial roles at Women’s Health, Cosmopolitan, and Glamour.
This article first appeared on the Thrive Global website.
