Do you find yourself feeling overwhelmed with the many responsibilities in life? These range from managing deadlines and other work obligations to juggling the many tasks of operating an efficient household. There are times you probably feel you can't possibly make it all work, ending each day feeling hopelessly behind schedule and possibly anxious, irritable or depressed.
Regardless of how frustrating it can be, you owe it to yourself to find a way to make it work. Rather than buckling under the pressure of an impossible to-do list, you should take a moment to view the larger perspective.
Picture the CEO of a large organization doing every single task on his/her own to make that company operate. Can you realistically envision this as a successful operation? Impossible - it can't and won't happen. If left to that one individual to do it all, it will have the end result of one of two outcomes; a company that goes under because it is not running to optimal productivity or a CEO that has failing health because of trying to do it all alone. You know that it takes a good plan, extreme organization and a great strategy to operate effectively and prosper at anything.
You must first realize that you have to lighten the load or it will weigh you down, both physically and mentally. The first step to sanity and inner peace is learning how to delegate some of the responsibility to other people. You may choose to hire a virtual assistant or ask someone to take on some of your chores; for example, trading childcare duties with another parent. In addition, you might find places where you can shift your expectations in ways that make life easier. For example, expecting yourself to create a healthy home-cooked meal every night after a full day of work, errands, or caring for an infant or toddler may be a bit excessive. Allow yourself to order in food once in a while, without any guilt. Accepting the adjustments needed to make your life work is an essential ingredient to being at peace with your situation.
At the end of the day, you must come to terms with changing what you can and accepting what you cannot change. Sometimes the laundry piles up, a sick child demands more of your attention than usual, and you temporarily get behind with your schedule. Accepting this momentary state of affairs and trusting in your ability to get back on track when the time is right, you gracefully accept your life as it is, letting go of perfectionism and embracing life as it stands.
Helpful Stress Management Tips:
Prioritize your tasks
- tackle your most important issues first and get them out of your way
Break projects into small steps
- with each action item checked off your list; you are closer to completion
Be open to the possibilities
- be willing to compromise - there may be a better way or solution
Balanced schedule
- plan out your day to accomplish the most
Don't over commit yourself
- keep your workload manageable to better handle stress
Plan regular breaks
- it's always good to re-energize, it leads to better performance
Good food choices and exercise
- a good maintenance plan will ensure longevity
Love your family, love your friends, love your pets, love your life but most importantly, love yourself! You are as precious as a diamond, allow yourself to sparkle. It is important to feel happiness. If you don't love everything in your life, make some changes to enable yourself to do it. If you hate your job, look for ways to make it more enjoyable or look for something else. It does no good to feel miserable about something and just let it be. Be motivated to take some positive action to make things better. When you love yourself, you will see and experience everything in a more positive light. Be inspired and motivate yourself to live a better and more positive life.