I’m really good at feeling overwhelmed. On any given week, I usually have a bazillion things going on between work, my side hustle, my family, and all the things I want to achieve in life. I’ve had to learn some good self care strategies to calm myself down when I’m feeling seriously stressed out. I hope this checklist of strategies helps you too next time you’re feeling overwhelmed!

Self Care Checklist for When You’re Feeling Overwhelmed

What to do, ask yourself, and think when you’re seriously stressed out

Self Care Checklist: DO THIS

Try one or a few, then see how you feel

Talk a walk

Getting outside and getting your body moving does wonders for stress levels

Breathe

Lay on the floor with your knees bent. Place your hands on your heart. Spend a few minutes just concentrating on your breath

Call a friend

Do you have a friend who is pretty calm and rational? Call them. Feel free to vent, but end it on a positive note

Close all the tabs

How many tabs do you have open on your computer right now? Closing them may help you feel a bit less overwhelmed

Put on relaxing music

I love the French cooking station on Pandora. Put on whatever relaxes you

Organize your space

A messy space just increases feelings of overwhelm. Organize one part of your immediate space. You’ll feel instantly productive and less stressed

Think about your happy place

Mine’s the beach. Looking at a photo or closing my eyes and imaging waves crashing instantly relaxes me

Make silly faces in the mirror

No matter how stressed you are, you’d be surprised that it may actually make you laugh

Rest your eyes

Could you be feeling overwhelmed because your eyes are overworked? Try staring off at the distance for a few minutes to rest them. I’m really bad at this and am going to start aiming to apply the 20-20 rule. Look away for 20 seconds after 20 minutes of screen time

Have a dance party

Blast some music and dance it out! You’ll get endorphins from moving your body and it just makes you happy!

Self Care Checklist: ASK YOURSELF THIS

Run down the list until one clicks

Did you get enough sleep last night?

If not, maybe take it a little easier today. Your body and brain could use it

Have you eaten something nutritious in the last few hours?

If not, eat a combo of fat + fiber + protein + greens. While you’re at it, why not drink some water too? Check out these yummy smoothie recipes

Will this matter a year from now?

If not, let it go

Are you placing unrealistic expectations on yourself?

Scale down. You can do it all, but you can’t do it all right now

Have you been outside today?

Go get some fresh air!

When was the last time you spent a few minutes alone with your thoughts?

Unplug for a few minutes. From your phone, from people, from everything

Is there something you can learn from this experience?

There’s always a lesson in every situation

Will you miss this moment in the future?

Sometimes no matter how much we are stressed out during a certain phase of life, it’s one that we will miss in the future. Find the positive in your current situation and figure out what it is you may miss in the future

Self Care Checklist: THINK THIS

Pick one that resonates most

I can do it all, but not all at once

I am grateful for my life

This is a season of life and soon it will change

I am grateful for the lessons life has taught me

I feel energetic and alive

There is a bright side to every situation

I have the power to create change

I love myself unconditionally

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