The end of the year and beginning of a new one can be an exciting time, but it can also be full of stress. Whether it’s work, your plans for self-improvement, or your social calendar, it seems as though there’s a rush to get everything in on time or get a head start on the new year. When you already suffer from conditions like anxiety and depression, the stress of the end of the year can be compounded until it becomes rather disruptive to your life.
Sometimes stressful situations might be unavoidable, but you can always find ways to better manage or cope with your stress. Here are a few of our recommendations:
#1 - Take a Break From the News
It’s good to be informed about what’s going on in the world. However, there comes a point when reading the news too much can actually hurt more than it helps. Especially when you get your news via social media, it can sometimes seem as though we’re inundated with devastatingly bad news.
If you find that too much time reading or watching the news is stressing you out, try to limit your time keeping up with the news. Set aside a few minutes each day to read the news. Set a timer. When the timer goes off, take a step back and stop reading. That way you can stay informed without dragging down your day.
#2 - Eat, Sleep, and Exercise
Diet, exercise, and sleep have a significant impact on your energy, which can exacerbate stress. During daylight savings time, it’s easy for sleep and exercise routines to fall by the wayside. The holidays can also be a time of year for overindulging when it comes to food. There’s nothing wrong with taking a break every now and then for a special occasion. But on the whole, make sure you’re eating a balanced diet, getting in at least a little bit of exercise, and sleeping 6-8 hours each night. It may help to set up a routine so that you sleep at the same time each night.
#3 - Develop a Routine For Unwinding
What do you do when you get home from work? Do you immediately start cooking dinner, doing chores around the house, or other busy activities at home? While this might be necessary, if you don’t take time to unwind it can feel as though you’re simply waking up, going to work, coming home to work, and sleeping.
Try to form a routine to unwind with a restful activity. It could be watching your favorite comedy, reading, playing with your pets, or playing a video game. This allows your mind and body to take a break for a few minutes and helps to refresh you for the next day.
#4 - Talk About It
Holding your stress in will only make it worse. There’s a reason why people use the allusion of “bottling up” emotions, with the concern that too much bottling up could cause them to overflow. Sometimes you need to vent, and sometimes you need to let others know that you need help. Talk to your therapist or psychiatrist about the extra stress that you’re dealing with. You should also reach out to trusted friends or loved ones and confide in them about what’s going on. They might be able to help you blow off steam, or might be able to offer problem-solving solutions.
#5 - Connect Socially
Don’t let yourself become too isolated in your stress, no matter how easy it may seem to do. The end of the year and the new year is a great time to connect with your friends and loved ones. You need that social connection in order to help you remember you’re not alone, that it isn’t all too much for you. Consider going out for drinks after work with coworkers or scheduling a game night with your friends and family to help you destress. If you’re part of a faith based organization, getting more involved can help you connect socially and spiritually.
#6 - Try Guided Meditation
It can be difficult to get into meditation at first. For many, staying in the present moment for at least ten minutes without distraction seems an insurmountable challenge. It’s easy to become caught up in worries about the future, or frustrations about the past. But the more you practice meditation, the easier it becomes to be mindful in your everyday life. It helps to start with guided meditation, which can give you a focus for your session. It’s only a few minutes out of your day, but it can really help lower your stress.
#7 - Consider Seeing a Therapist
If you’re not already seeing a therapist, now might be a good time to do so. When stress becomes too difficult to manage, you shouldn’t try to handle it alone. A therapist can help you figure out coping mechanisms that work for you, as well as potentially problem-solve and set some goals for the issues that are at the root of your stress. They may also be able to point to certain conditions that could be causing or exacerbating your stress and refer you to a psychiatrist. With a therapist, your stress won’t disappear, but they will arm you with the tools you need to cope.
Whether you need a therapist, a counselor, or a medication consultant, Rivia Mind is here for you. Our skilled and compassionate clinicians can help you work through stress of all kinds. Contact us today to learn more or to schedule a free 15-minute consultation.
