How To Stay Calm In Times Of Change
“Any change, even a change for the better, is always accompanied by drawbacks and discomforts.”
Change Is Hard
Change is hard. It has to be. Moving on from a job before your time is up, losing a loved one, or ending a relationship can be huge sources of stress. The mounting admin, things to do, and general uncertainty often means that the first thing to fall is your mental health.
Why do we sacrifice our mental health for the sake of change? Often it's because we take our eye off the ball and stop paying attention to the little signs. It’s so easy to write off a sleepless night, flared temper, or emotional moment as a little symptom of stress. However, the ripples on the surface could be pointing to something far more turbulent underneath.
Life often gets hectic - how do we stay grounded in times of change?
Mental Health
Mental health is something that we all try to stay on top of, but often slips through the cracks. It is even more important to stay on top of mental health and well-being when going through stressful life events. As I often say, health and happiness are our most important productivity tools. So how do we check in and keep healthy?
Meditation
Mediation is one of the most powerful assets in your mental health arsenal. It can have extreme physical health benefits such as reducing cortisol (the stress hormone) and increasing blood flow to the brain. However, the mental benefits are even more powerful.
Meditation reduces stress related anxiety and depression, and can increase stress resilience. Of course, in the middle of a busy period in your life it can be hard to find the time. But even 10 minutes each day can have profound effects on your health. By setting aside time to check in with your body and be mindful, you will work more efficiently and be happier. Meditation allows you to work smarter.
If you are having trouble meditating alone, try guided meditations or classes. Services like Headspace are making guided meditation more and more accessible, allowing you to meditate on the go or at your own convenience.
Diet
It’s 9pm. The thought of cooking a meal right now is the furthest thing from your mind. As time marches on throughout the evening, you get ever closer to grabbing fast food on your way home, or perhaps ordering takeout.This is when meal prep comes in handy.
Have something in your fridge that you can throw together. Batch cooking, making a healthy plant-based chilli, or even buying a stock of healthy soups can be a lifesaver when time is of the essence. Food is the fuel of what you put in your body. Make sure that your diet is working for you, and eat intelligently. It’s worth the extra effort, even when life is chaotic.
Exercise
Let’s be honest - even when people aren’t stressed, exercise can fall by the wayside. So whenever life throws a curveball, the last thing on your mind is running or lifting weights. But the mental effects of working out can save you in times of stress. Regular exercise makes people happier, and can clear the mind, allowing you to concentrate on the important things.
People
Human beings need to experience other people. Friendships, networks, support groups - these all form an important part of your mental well-being. It can often be tempting to close off, knuckle down, and put the nose to the grindstone when you have a lot to do. But humans weren’t built like that.
We are pack animals - the human brain hasn’t changed much in the last 10,000 years. Think back to when we were in tribes. The constant interaction between other tribe members is what humans are best at. When we don’t have that consistent interaction, we can stop performing.
Of course, it can be hard to take time to do something like catching up with an old friend. But much like the other aspects of this article, it can actually be more costly not to. We need to remember to work smarter, and use the natural rhythms and tendencies of the body to our advantage.
Help and Medication
There can come a time when you need help. This is nothing to be ashamed of. Seeing a therapist and getting assistance can feel scary, but I know of nobody who has regretted consulting medical help when they need it. If you feel like you are slipping, just know that you are not alone. Millions of people seek medical help for mental health each year.
Stay Mindful
Throughout all of the things I’ve talked about above, the biggest takeaway is to stay mindful of what the body is, and use it to your advantage. We are not machines, and we are all different. Constant work and stress is bad for your mental health - it’s as simple as that.
There will come a time over the next few years when life gets hard, and stress hits. It’s inevitable. But remember to keep the important natural productivity tools active, and your own body can work to your advantage.