By Mavis A. Creagh
“I’m not doing well” was the phrase that kept popping into my head. I was in a state of constant “busyness” with little time to rest. Although the work was positive, I felt overwhelmed and stressed out.
If this sounds familiar, here are some tips on how to slow down while still moving forward in your life and mental health journey.
Reset boundaries:
As a naturally caring and helpful person, I struggled with boundaries. This led to high stress levels and greater anxiety. Trying to please people cost me dearly, and sometimes even now, I must regroup.
Set emotional goals:
Determine what a healthy state looks like for you physically, mentally and emotionally — even write it down. If someone or something opposes the goals you’ve established, it’s time to reevaluate your role in the relationship.
I know this can be difficult, but you get to decide how you engage and to what extent you allow situations to affect you.
Allow time for breaks:
My calendar was once so overloaded that I sometimes would forget to eat or take medicine. This is unhealthy and shows that I’d left no time in my schedule to breathe and evaluate my priorities. Remember that you are your most important asset, and you must take steps to ensure your wellbeing — even in a fast-paced world.
Prioritize mental and emotional care:
Therapy and counseling are important tools to help navigate and manage stressors. There is nothing wrong with seeking help, especially when you can’t process and cope on your own.
Stop:
Slow down long enough to process the past, present and future. This can be scary, especially if you have experienced trauma, abuse or neglect or are in an unhealthy situation.
Set limits:
Some stressor you can’t avoid, but others come from obligating yourself when you lack the physical or emotional capacity.
‘No’ is not a bad word:
Saying “no” has caused me great anxiety at times. Practice saying it and get comfortable with relaying the message. My favorite way to turn things down lately is saying, “I don’t have the capacity.”
Pursue happiness:
Put yourself around people, places and things that bring you joy and fulfillment. Even when life is life-ing and trying to steal your smile, remember it’s not the end. There’s always something to get happy about. Even in the storm, you can still receive good things.
Go with the flow:
No matter what was happening, I decided to ride the waves and paddle with (not against) the stream. I chose not to drown, even when the storm was raging. Take the position of victory and of hope, even in a chaotic world.
Mavis A. Creagh is an executive director, author, speaker, consultant, entrepreneurial strategist, columnist and online show host. She is the founder of Mavis A. Creagh Consulting LLC, Mavis on Main and We Women Ministries Inc. Reach her at maviscreaghmedia@gmail.com.