Managing Stress When Life is Busy

It’s happening. 

Christmas is coming. 

Not to freak you out but there are only 14 days left to shop for Christmas presents, wrangle your kid off their device, read last minute school emails, go to the end of year performances, tidy up the work inbox, make it to the work christmas party and… 

…not lose your mind and scream at your teenagers relaxing on the couch

… which feels near impossible because every year you get to this point in December and watch as the rest of the year spirals around you. 

Not this year. 

This year we’re pulling off a Christmas miracle. 

Here’s how to get to the end of the year without losing your mind starting today.

Step 1: Brain Dump.

This time of year has more tasks than normal and it’s filling your brain to the brim.

Empty your brain by literally sitting for 10 mins and writing everything out that is inside of your head, from thoughts and worries to the long to-do list and reminders…write it all down. 

Once it’s all on paper, move through the following steps to help you manage the load.

Step 2: Notice and let go of any unhelpful thinking.

Stress doesn’t come from our experiences. It comes from how we perceive our experiences. 

Challenging unhelpful thoughts can reduce the emotional load at this time.

For example, you could reframe “I have no time”…

to… 

“The time is tight but at this stage I have time to complete the task.”

By doing this we weed out any unrealistic thinking clouding our mood and judgement and putting additional emotional strain on us that we don’t have capacity for. 

Step 3: Consider the meaningfulness of the difficulty or task.

Many of the things we stress about are not big problems when put into perspective.

Examples might be getting fixated on small decisions or tasks at work vs big picture.

Or stress about whether to buy a hat or sunglasses for your dad for Christmas….when you know he’ll love either option.  

If the task on your list isn’t meaningful then put it last or take it off. 

You don’t want your prime mental energy going towards things that aren’t that meaningful.

Step 4: Decide whether there’s a real problem that needs to be addressed. 

After looking for thinking errors and meaningfulness, it’s time to decide.

If it can be solved, work on a solution, if it can’t then work on acceptance.

Too often we waste brain power trying to solve or worry about something that needs to be accepted and can’t be solved. 

For example, you can decide on the menu for Christmas lunch and order the food. This is a problem that can be solved.

But worrying about whether everyone will have a happy time around the Christmas table is not a problem to solve but one that needs acceptance. We can’t control other's emotions or behaviours at Christmas and worrying about it only drains you, robbing you of enjoying your day.  

Step 5: Transform the stress in your body.

When we’re stressed or anxious our bodies react with chemicals that prepare us to take on a physical threat by running away or fighting that threat. But modern day life and stressors don’t look like lions and tigers we are fighting or running from. They are to do lists that we sit at our work desk and worry about.

Completing the stress cycle through movement, sleep, food, soothing activities and self talk, slow breathing, and rest are important in stress management.

What I’ve just shared with you is called BUMPiT.

It’s my process to help you manage stress.

Brain Dump.

Unhelpful thought

Meaningfulness

Problem Solve

iTransform body stress. 

It’s my Christmas gift to you. 

Here to help.