'START-OVER DAYS' FOR WHEN YOU FEEL OVERWHELMED

Can you remember the last time you spent a day to yourselves? When you felt in control, and physically, mentally and emotionally nourished by the end of the day, ready to conquer the week ahead of you?

Yeah, I couldn't either. In today's world, where being a workaholic and working every minute of your life is the definition of being successful, we hardly seem to take out time to repair and recharge our mind, body and soul. But I realized that this practice of forcing myself to work 24/7/365 wasn't helping my productivity, rather it was taking a toll on my mental health and making me anxious and overwhelmed. My brain would run in a million different directions, and it would all end up in a huge mess, eventually leading to a burnout. These are the time when I wish I could just start-over again.

The concept of 'Start-over days' isn't something I created, but I definitely swear by it. As we are almost always home these days, courtesy of COVID, it can be hard to not get lost in negativity and find the motivation to go on. In this blog I have compiled a bunch of simple activities that you can do on a weekend (or any day-off) to feel like yourself again and get out of a (sometimes depressive) rut.

The night before-

Go to bed early(ier)- I know watching one episode of Suits seems like the only thing that will bring you joy in the moment but we all know how much we regret doing that. Go to bed earlier than you normally would, you have a big day tomorrow

The 'start-over' day-

Wake up early(ier): If you usually wake up at 8, try and be up by 6. Don't drastically change your sleep cycle, but alter it just enough to get a head-start on the day.

Self-care: Sometimes all I need to clear my head is a long, steaming shower. No quick 5-minute showers! If candles and bubble baths are your thing, give yourself the opportunity to enjoy it. You deserve it!

Self care is how you take your power back.

-Lalah Delia

Pursue a hobby: I can see you rolling your eyes at me, but hear me out. Doing something that actually makes you happy can dramatically change the entire tone of your day. Maybe it is a painting that has been on your mind forever, the new recipe you wanted to try, the book on your shelf or the dying plants in your garden. You don't have to be good at it, it should just help you escape.

Move a little: Physical activity can tremendously help lift your mood and make you feel accomplished. It can be anything from a 5-minute guided meditation session (there are tons of good ones on YouTube) to an hour-long Zumba class.

Eat better: After a long day at work, McDonalds might seem like heaven. But let us reserve it for the long days. Fruits and veggies not only make you healthier, they also make you happier. Plus, you save money!

Check out this research article to learn more about the trade-of between healthy-eating and happiness.

Interact: Everyone has days when they feel repelled by other people, for no particular reason. That is perfectly OK. Friends and family are amazing, but sometimes, you really just need to interact with yourself. Spend some time to understand why you are feeling this way. Maybe you have set huge expectations for yourself and have been wearing yourself out, or you are stuck in a bad relationship, or maybe you had envisioned a life for yourself and you can't quite see it happening. Tell yourself that you’re are doing your best. Accept yourselves as you are right now. It is both hard and easy at the same time.

Let yourself rest: Don't put any pressure on yourself to be or do anything. Just exist. Understand that you just feel depleted and overwhelmed and that it is not going to be like this forever. When your body craves a nice long nap, don't fight it.

The 5-3-2 rule: No, you don't need to pull out an excel sheet and plan the next six months of your life to feel organized. Just spend 5 minutes listing 3 things that you want to accomplish the next day. Remember to keep one such task that will only take you 2 minutes to do, but will give you a sense of satisfaction.

For instance, here is my list:

i) research for my next blog

ii) exercise and shower

iii) clear my dresser [only takes 2 minutes!]

In these testing times, being kind and forgiving to ourselves has become crucial. And, the best way to do is to allow yourself multiple restarts. I hope doing some, if not all these activities will give you some motivation to plan your new beginning. Feel free to comment on this post, or use our forum to share your concerns and your victories and let other people know that they are not alone in this.