Simple Ways to Relieve Stress When You’re Feeling Overwhelmed

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Life can become overwhelming, whether you’re rushing to meet deadlines or balancing work and family time. Home, financial, and family responsibilities can seem enormous, while relaxation time can feel limited. Plus, your to-do list at work keeps piling up. 

The pressure to perform optimally and efficiently can add to your daily load, leaving you stressed and anxious. How do you manage stress when you’re overstimulated?

Focusing on small and effective habits like breathing deeply, prioritizing breaks, enjoying fresh air, and being kind to yourself can help you refocus and feel more at ease. Here are some tips for relieving stress when feeling overwhelmed. 

Take a Break From Everything 

Taking a break is one of the best ways to calm your mind and refocus when you have a lot on your plate. You can find taking a breather challenging, especially when meeting deadlines. However, a quick break can help you feel at ease and work through your tasks more efficiently. 

Pushing through tasks when overwhelmed can lead to making mistakes and feeling more stressed. Disconnecting from to-do lists can help you reset and feel less anxious. You can do many activities to help you relax and reset in moments of stress. Take a power nap, sit in the sun, play with your pet, water your plants, or enjoy a snack. 

Find something that helps disengage your mind from work and daily tasks. Switching off can help you feel calm, refreshed, and ready to face the rest of the day. 

Accept Your Feelings

In high-stress moments, it’s normal to feel down. You have a lot going on and need to process it. Instead of judging yourself, try to understand what triggered this feeling. Accepting your emotions without judgment can help you identify what’s stressing you out and work through it calmly. It can also help you manage and overcome feelings of anxiousness or stress the next time you experience it. 

Practice Self-Compassion

Trying some self-compassion can help you be more kind to yourself in moments of stress. Think about how you would treat someone who was stressed and overcome with emotion. What would you say to comfort them? You wouldn’t judge and make them feel worse. Instead, you’d say something like, “It’s okay to feel this way. You’re human.” Or, “It’s okay to experience these feelings. They’re part of life.”

Remember to treat yourself with the same kindness. 

Mediate and Breath Deeply

Concentrating can seem challenging when you’re overwhelmed. Meditating can help you reflect on the moment and find peace. It can also help you be more present and see the situation objectively and without judgment. You can try various meditation exercises like mindfulness and box breathing. Deep breathing can make you feel calm and less tense. 

Go for a Walk

You might need fresh air when you’re in a tight space. Going for a five to 15-minute walk outside can help you catch your breath and clear your mind when overwhelmed. It can also release endorphins and improve your mood. 

Enjoy the sights and sounds like the leaves rustling in the wind and the birds chirping. Embrace the fresh air or sun on your skin and enjoy feeling free and far away from obstacles. You can also use your walk to think about the situation and how to move forward. Physical exercise and fresh air can give you a new perspective on the task. 

Take a Minute to Talk

Someone might have the answers or advice you’re looking for. A loved one or colleague can offer you support and comfort. Tell them how you’re feeling and what’s causing it. They can see things more clearly and offer some helpful solutions. Speaking to someone can also help you let go of emotions, making you feel more at ease. 

Play or Listen to Music

Try calming your mind with music. Playing or listening to music can be an excellent way to distract yourself from the moment. While the genre, tempo, and volume can differ for everyone, music can help you handle stress and cope with challenging emotions. 

Put on a song that energizes or soothes you, or learn a musical instrument to ease your worry. You can find used instruments at secondhand stores or borrow one from a friend to save money if you’re just looking for a casual hobby.

Studies show that playing a musical instrument can more effectively treat anxiety than conventional solutions. Musical instruments can have a positive effect, providing a calming and therapeutic experience. 

Prioritize Important Tasks

Looking at a lengthy to-do list can make you feel more overwhelmed. Organize your to-do list and prioritize the most critical tasks. See which tasks you can remove or minimize to help reduce your workload. Focusing on what’s most urgent can help work through tasks more efficiently. You may feel more at ease once you tick off all your priority tasks, providing more time to focus on other tasks. 

Write Down What’s Bothering You 

Finding words can feel challenging when you’re handling multiple emotions. Writing down what’s bothering you and your feelings can help release any built-up feelings. It can also help you organize your thoughts and find solutions to your situation. 

Laugh a Little 

Laugh to forget and reset. Laughing can take your mind off a stressful situation. Whether you watch a funny social media video, reminisce about a funny moment, or laugh with someone, it can be an excellent remedy for lightening your mood. 

Visualize Peace 

Think of something that makes you happy or that you’re looking forward to. Picture your mood, the place, and the people around you. How do you feel when you think about this moment? Visualizing can transport you from your situation and give you optimism to get through the moment or day.

Zoom Out on the Situation

Looking at the moment differently can help change your feelings and mood. It can also help you see your situation from an optimistic view. Consider how this moment will affect you tomorrow, next week or next year. Will it matter in two days or a year from now? 

Stress can make you overemphasize situations, making it difficult to see a positive outcome. When you zoom out on the moment, it can help you know the magnitude of your problem. Often, it’s not as bad as you think. 

Focus on Past Triumphs 

It’s normal to forget that you’ve gone through something similar before and probably will again. Think about previous situations where you felt stressed or overwhelmed. Did you get through that moment? How did you get past it? Focusing on times when you overcame stress can help you remember your resilience and overcome this moment. 

We hope these tips will help you the next time you feel overwhelmed or stressed. 

Unwind in the Face of Stress

When life gets busy, it can be hard to relax, even when you have downtime. Your mind can continue racing from all the stresses of the day and ruin your relaxation time. However, there are ways you can put your mind at ease when you’re feeling overwhelmed. Try one of these mindful activities to overcome your overwhelm.