I’m having one of those days. My mind is racing around several tasks trying to decide what to work on next. This is the kind of day when I need to complete tasks. I find a task that is a one-time project, and I complete it. Then I find another task and complete it. I keep repeating it until my brain feels focused. Not only do I get small tasks done, but it helps my mind find order. Simply put, completing tasks calms me down if I’m feeling distracted or anxious. I clean like a professional when I’m stressed because of this. This coping mechanism may not work for everyone, but it happens to work for me.
When we feel anxious, stressed, distracted, or just discombobulated in general, it helps to have activities that calm us. I pray, sing, clean, cook, write, use game apps, organize, and complete small tasks. Whichever thing helps, I try until my brain can focus again. It’s good for us to have a variety of coping strategies because what works one day may not work the next day. Maybe the stress is different one day to the next. Maybe your mind needs a different activity to focus on. As long as it works, it’s one to add to your list of coping mechanisms.
I’m starting a new part-time job soon, and my mind is racing. That was my trigger today. Whenever I started a new job or project in the past, I had a moment like this. I know I have to distract myself and remind myself why people hire me. My ability to organize and work my way through a list of important tasks is one of my strong points so it is fitting that it is also a coping strategy.
Take the time to learn about yourself. What triggers anxiety or stress? When that happens, how do you best calm yourself? Make a mental note of what situations cause you to become anxious. Then make a mental note of what helps you find calm. Now you have a list of things to return to when your anxiety or stress overwhelms you. Your coping strategies don’t have to look like the strategies others use. Find your calm in the methods that work for you.
(DISCLAIMER: I am not a mental health professional. I just like to share the mental health strategies that work for me. Please reach out to a mental health professional if you are struggling.)
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Inspirational Verses for the Day:
Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7, CSB)
All Things Subject to Change 