The Secret to Staying Sane When Life Gets Out of Control

Feeling overwhelmed? Honestly, life feels crazy right now. Between the state of our world, the aftermath of COVID-19, inflation, political turmoil, and the horrific daily news coverage—it’s no wonder we’re all burned out, overwhelmed, and exhausted.

If you are overwhelmed, you may feel more emotional, exhausted, stagnant, and unable to continue. Overwhelmed can also lead to feelings of sadness, anxiety, anger, irritability, and worry.

But while our world feels a little shaky right now (or a lot of it), there are things you can do to help maintain your sanity and take care of yourself. Whether you’re working overtime, trying to juggle work and parenting, trying to make ends meet or struggling with personal issues – know you’re not alone.

Today we’re going to talk about some ways to help you stay sane and take care of yourself when life spirals out of control. Feeling those winter blues yet?view our posts 12 Ways to Beat the Winter Blues.

The Secret to Staying Sane When Life Gets Out of Control

slow down

So it might feel completely impossible and contradict the feeling of being overwhelmed, but I promise you, if you take the time to slow down, you won’t regret it. When we’re feeling overwhelmed, we often feel like we don’t have time to slow down, but that’s actually when we most need to slow down. There’s a saying that says, “If you don’t have time to meditate for an hour a day, you should meditate for two.” I’m not saying you have to meditate, but the general idea is that the less time you have to slow down, the more you need it. So make time to be calm and quiet. Whether it’s first thing in the morning, at noon, or before bed. Do yoga, meditate, have a cup of coffee in a quiet setting, take a quiet walk, read, sit by the fireplace, slow down and see what happens.

I have a friend who does what she calls a “crazy walk” every day during her lunch break. Now is the time to get outside and get the negative energy that is building up out of your body. When things get tough, it’s a reset high noon. Personalize your “slow down” time, but try to make time for it every day! You will see such a transformation in your mindset and ability to cope with life.

Looking for more information on slowing down? Check out our post, 10 Tips for Slowing Down in a Changing World.

try this 5 Minute Table Yoga As a way to slow down during the workday.

Want to start a morning ritual?try 6 Tips on How to Start Your Morning Ritual.

Spend time on cup fillings not spills

Cup fillers are the best! These are the people in your life who make you feel loved, happy, safe, heard and appreciated. When you take the time to use your cup filler, you’ll know because you’ll feel lighter, re-energized, happier and overall content.

Someone who spills a glass will disappoint you. You make them feel depressed, tired, anxious and sad. The cup sprinkler just adds to your feeling of being overwhelmed. Pay attention to how you feel after spending time with friends and family, and prioritize who fills your glass!

What can you eliminate?

If life is overwhelming you, chances are you’re doing too much. Think about all the things you’ve been doing in your life and see if there’s anything you can cross off your list. I’ve been feeling incredibly overwhelmed lately, and my therapist suggested talking to my husband about the household responsibilities we share. When I was a stay-at-home mom, I had gotten into the habit of doing everything, but when I went back to working part-time, it suddenly felt like too much. I was able to have a nice conversation with my husband about how I felt overwhelmed, and he has been sharing all of the household responsibilities with me ever since. It’s so nice to be able to have this kind of conversation and let go of grudges instead of drowning in the laundry every week… really!

What else can you eliminate from your life that is working against you and increasing stress?

give up perfectionism

Many times we feel the need to be in control and expect everything to be perfect. We live in a culture that feeds on perfectionism, and it’s hard not to fall victim to it. It’s a conscious exercise in letting go of the need to be perfect and in control of every little thing. Let me tell you, your house doesn’t need to be spotless for your friends to come over. Honestly, if it wasn’t, they’d be more appreciative because it would allow them to allow it to not be cleaned the next time you come over. It’s hard to normalize life, and things don’t always get done. Yes, ok. Everyone is fine, and life isn’t over if you don’t vacuum.

In what ways are you living with perfectionism? How do you start showing yourself some grace and lowering your expectations?

say no when needed

Along with perfectionism, many of us feel the need to say yes to everything. There are so many events and activities in life that require saying yes that it is simply not practical to do them all. Saying “yes” to things you shouldn’t do will only add to your burden, add to the stress of financial spending, and take less time away from dealing with basic necessities. If you have a hard time saying no to something, you’ll also often find yourself having to cancel or give up at the last minute, which isn’t fair to you or the person you’re committing to. Choose your plans wisely, and you’ll feel good when you make a commitment so you can follow through.

Having trouble making a decision? Listen to your body when you receive an invitation to do something. Does it create feelings of stress or anxiety or does it get you excited? Let these natural responses help guide your decisions.

sunday party

My husband and I recently started attending Sunday meetings and they are so helpful and make us both feel good about the week ahead. My husband works late most nights and doesn’t come home until 9 or 10 pm. This can be difficult for both of us, but it helps to know each week which evenings he will be home and which evenings I will be alone with our son. This way I can make plans with friends or family, or plan a quiet evening home by myself. We check appointments for the week, who is responsible for pickup and any other planned events or activities. We also try to do some meal planning and prep so that we have meals ready for the busy days and late nights. This helps make Sunday scares a little less scary and we’ll be more confident and ready to go into our week. It also ensures that our week goes by more smoothly and we are less likely to have those misunderstandings or accidents that can lead to extra stress.

prioritize yourself

As women, we often prioritize everyone around us over ourselves. If you’re overwhelmed, it means you need to take better care of yourself. Take time for yourself so you can be the best version of yourself and be able to help others. Whether that means waking up early for a workout class or getting a massage more often before the day starts. Think about what you need in life to stay sane.

meal prep

The weeks I prepare meals always go much smoother than the weeks I don’t. I get it, things come and go, sometimes meals aren’t prepared, it’s just survival mode. But if you can try to plan ahead for the week ahead, you’ll be glad you did. I follow food bloggers who send out recipes and weekly meal plans that make prepping so easy.my favorite is health expert and real health. I’ll pick a few recipes that look healthy and delicious, make my shopping list and go shopping. I take into account the prep time of each meal and my schedule for the week. For example, we always work late at our house on Monday and Wednesday nights, so I have to put together something quick for dinner. We always try to plan for leftovers on those nights, like making a big pot meal or casserole on Sunday and Tuesday. This was very helpful in making our week go more smoothly.

simplify

Just as simplifying your home creates a more peaceful, calm state of mind, simplifying your life will do the same. You don’t need to be everything and be everywhere at the same time. If Saturday morning ballet class is stressful for your family and your kids don’t even like it, then maybe you can cross it off the list. If you go to a weekly girls’ night, which annoys your partner and stresses you out, maybe you just need to go once or twice a month. If girls’ night out is the only thing keeping you sane, go ahead and do it! Find out what’s working and what’s not in your life and see if you can make some changes.

Request for help

I have several friends who are single moms, and it’s the hardest job in the whole world. It is also difficult for them to seek help. They don’t want to inconvenience anyone and they feel like they have to do it all themselves. When life gets out of control, we need to seek help. For ourselves and for those around us. When we’re burned out, we can’t function and be our best selves. Ask for help from those you love and trust when you need it. They’ll be happy to take your kids for an afternoon, or buy you groceries in a pinch.

If you can afford the extra, maybe asking for help means hiring a cleaning lady. Or it might mean letting your partner do the grocery shopping on the way home, or having your mother-in-law babysit your kids while you spend some time on your own. Ask your colleagues to help you plan something or attend a meeting. Seek help and lighten your load.

Take a Digital Detox

The news is incredibly upsetting these days, and I find myself feeling anxious every time I pick up the phone. Take a break from social media apps, the news, and other sources that can stress or overwhelm you. Enough is happening in your own life, you don’t need to add to it!Check How to Do a Digital Detox Get more tips!

Overwhelming resources:

Feeling overwhelmed? What are you doing to take care of yourself? Let us know in the comments below.