How to organize and take control of your life? 7 Tips to Help You Take Control of Your Life
Are you feeling like life is spinning out of control? Do you often feel agitated, anxious, or stressed — perhaps even to the point of panic? Do unexpected events catch you off guard and leave you reeling for days as you attempt to put your life back together? If so, you’re not alone. Even though we live in one of the most technologically advanced and knowledge-driven societies in history, many people struggle with acute anxiety and stress. In fact, according to a recent study by the American Psychological Association, American adults now report being more stressed than at any other time in the last 10 years. Fortunately, there are proven ways to regain control of your life when it feels like things have spun out of control. Here are 7 tips from an expert to help you take control again:
Take a moment to breathe
When you’re feeling out of control, your breathing may become shallow and rapid. This type of breathing can actually make your anxiety worse, causing you to feel even more out of control. Controlled breathing, on the other hand, can help you relax and take back control. Here’s how it works: Slow down your breathing by inhaling deeply through your nose and exhaling slowly through your mouth. As you exhale, imagine your breath flowing out through your toes and feet, moving up your legs, out through your torso, and out your arms, fingers, and hands. When your breathing is regular again, you’re ready to re-engage with life.
Exercise regularly
Regular exercise has been scientifically proven to help reduce anxiety and stress, increase feelings of self-worth, and improve sleep. In fact, exercise can be as effective as many anxiety medications in treating anxiety disorders. While it may seem counter-intuitive, physical activity can actually help reduce feelings of anxiety, stress, and depression. Exercise increases the production of endorphins, the body’s natural mood enhancers, and gets the blood flowing to promote feelings of calm and clarity. If you feel like you’re spinning out of control, try to schedule a regular fitness activity into your weekly schedule. Even a daily 10-minute walk can increase feelings of clarity and reduce stress.
Identify the source of your anxiety
When you’re struggling with acute anxiety and stress, it’s easy to feel like it’s out of your control. Unfortunately, this can lead you to engage in destructive behaviors in an attempt to control your anxiety. For example, many people turn to alcohol or drugs to help them cope — even though these substances may make your anxiety worse in the long run. If you feel like you’re spinning out of control, stop and spend some time reflecting on what may be causing your anxiety. Is it work-related stress? Financial concerns? Family pressures? Once you identify the source of your anxiety, you can work to find effective ways to manage your anxiety in a productive and healthy way.
Celebrate what’s going well in your life
When you’re feeling out of control, it’s easy to become focused on the negatives in your life. You may focus on your feelings of anxiety, worry, and stress, as well as any areas of your life that aren’t going well. As a result, you may start to feel even more anxious and stressed out — and your life may start to feel like it’s spinning out of control. If this sounds familiar, try to shift your focus to what’s going well in your life. You don’t have to ignore your challenges, but you can also recognize the positive things happening in your life as well.
Commit to a small change
When you feel like your life is spinning out of control, it’s easy to become overwhelmed by everything you’re trying to do — and everything you need to do. You may feel like you have no control over the situation and no way to regain control. If this sounds familiar, try to commit to a small, manageable change in your life. For example, if you’re feeling overworked and overwhelmed, try to reduce your workload or increase your daily relaxation time. If you’re feeling anxious and worried all the time, commit to a daily practice that helps you shift your focus to positive things in your life.
Ask for help from trusted friends and family members
When you’re feeling out of control, it’s not uncommon to try to solve the problem on your own. Unfortunately, trying to tackle everything on your own can lead to feelings of frustration and even more anxiety. If you’re feeling like your life is spinning out of control, try to reach out for help from people you can trust. While it’s important to be careful about whom you confide in and what you tell them, there are many people who want to help you. Ask for help from family members, friends, and colleagues to help you solve your problems.
Conclusion
When you feel like your life is spinning out of control, it may be challenging to regain control of your life again. Fortunately, there are ways you can take control again when things feel out of control. Try to take a moment to breathe, exercise regularly, identify the source of your anxiety, celebrate what’s going well in your life, commit to a small change, ask for help from trusted friends and family members, and understand that these feelings are normal when life feels like it’s spinning out of control.
