4 Methods to Get Rid of Excessive Stress

Note: This article is by Keri Mangis, who shares her experience in dealing with excessive stress.

At the end of the first day of my new job, when I threw my body weight onto the sofa, I was so exhausted that I could not gather my energy to get up and make a cup of tea for myself, and my mind was disorganized. The following conversation took place between my husband and I:

• “What do you want to have for dinner?”
• “I don’t know.” “Whatever.”
• ”Do you want a cup of tea?”
• I gestured with my hand (yes).
• “Do you want green tea or regular tea?”
• “I don’t know.”
• “Are you alright?”

I was not alright, to be honest, and it was not just a strain after a busy day; instead, I was totally exhausted. I sat without moving for several hours while watching TV, but I was not actually following anything, as my place was frozen, and I was in complete silence, unanimous with the family activities that revolve around me.

I was enthusiastic about this opportunity to learn and grow, and I did not mind enduring more than my energy could manage; however, what I endured for one day exceeded that. Perhaps there should be a condition called "mental indigestion" because it perfectly describes how I felt.

I mastered this job over time and managed to deal with fatigue until it became just tension, so I could make correct decisions in that case, know what I needed, ask for help, and express it effectively and clearly.

But exhaustion is an entirely different issue. Because positive self-talk cannot take you out of this situation and you cannot follow any of the usual tips that are applied when we feel nervous, such as delegation, prioritizing, seeking help, or setting boundaries, when you feel exhausted, you may also feel that you are:

1. Detached from reality.
2. Indecisive.
3. Unable to think or comprehend things clearly.
4. Forgetful.
5. Distracted.
6. Separated from your body and soul.

How can you control your mind and get rid of stress?

When you feel exhausted, your mind becomes like a free kite in the air. Persuading yourself to calm down, acting on the matter, or anything else you may say to yourself is closer to expecting a kite to fly in a straight line.

Therefore, you can do nothing but hope for the circumstances to change. However, if you find enough capacity to realize that you are in a state of fatigue, you can control that kite and your mind as well, and here is how to get started:

1. Have a safe space

You must first know that the state of exhaustion is not the appropriate time to make decisive decisions regarding important matters, such as relationships, work, or available opportunities, as it is not a reasonable time to set boundaries or be frank with someone about what is going on in your life.

This is because exhaustion separates our mind from our body. Hence, any decision you make or a word you say will take place in isolation from your heart and instinctive feelings, and you may regret it later.

Instead, this is a good time for you to provide a safe space for yourself, just as you do with a young child out of control. One of the methods is to achieve this with self-care, which later becomes a habit without which you cannot do it.

Self-care means setting a fixed morning and evening routine that is not necessarily long, elaborate, or complex. It is sufficient to repeat it regularly, regardless of what happens during the day.

some examples

1. Start every morning with gratitude; write a list of things that you feel grateful for. Give yourself 15 minutes in the evening to breathe.
2. Start your day with gentle stretching exercises, and end every day with relaxing exercises.
3. Set your intentions for the day every morning, and end your day by listening to some quiet music.

If you are exhausted and the choice between these three matters is a challenging one, do the last thing. The idea is that even when you are exhausted during the day, there is a place and time when everything stops, and then you will find that you can control things.

The best time for self-care is when you are not exhausted. This way, even when you get rid of your feeling of exhaustion, you follow your routine just as you do when cleaning your teeth.

“The truth is that stress doesn't come from your boss, your kids, your spouse, traffic jams, health challenges, or other circumstances. It comes from your thoughts about these circumstances.” (American philosopher Andrew Bernstein)

2. Reduce sensory inputs

Fatigue is a condition in which you feel the "weight of burdens" on you, that is, the presence of many sensory inputs and the lack of time to absorb them completely. We are not machines that only store information. We need time to accommodate and get comfortable.

When you feel exhausted, it is time to reduce the inputs of the five senses, and some examples come as follows:

1. Taste: Choose simple foods and meals instead of complex flavors.
2. Sight: Reduce the lighting.
3. Hearing: Stay away from loud and chaotic atmospheres.
4. Smell: Use aromatic oils in the bathroom, your favorite type of scented candles, or moisturizing cream for the body.
5. Touch: Wear comfortable clothes or a warm blanket.

3. Ask others for assistance

It is difficult for people who consider themselves strong and able to seek help. Still, it can benefit you to allow another person to take over now more than ever, whether it is a request, preparing dinner, canceling an appointment on your behalf, or accomplishing some other simple tasks to reduce the burden.

4. Patience and self-kindness

Treat yourself very gently when you are exhausted, and do not criticize yourself because you are unable to make decisions or because of your need for help.

This is because fatigue, by its nature, is accompanied by a feeling of instability in your body, especially with regard to your heart, intuition, and emotions. The best decisions are made and limits are placed, and they can be expressed clearly and effectively.

In conclusion

You may lack motivation out of exhaustion, but you can restore your strength through self-care, reducing sensory inputs, allowing others to help you, and generally being kind and patient with yourself.

You will notice day by day that your thinking will become more clear, and you will soon realize the decisions that must be made and the limits that must be placed to reduce the fatigue you face over time.