Stop, look and listen. How to cope when you become overwhelmed.

The to-do list seems to be growing and nothing is getting done. The demands of work start to keep you up at night. You begin to neglect your own needs as you just can't find the time. You might start to forget things or you might start to obsess over small things. You might find you are unable to concentrate or think clearly and that you can't keep up with the tasks required of you on a day to day basis. Sound familiar? Often connected with anxiety, feeling overwhelmed could cause you to become stressed, tired and it could affect your relationships with those around you and your productivity at work or within your family.

How can you manage this feeling and move forward with positive feelings? At Elements Boutique Spa we advise you take it back to the basics, stop, look and listen. It’s a process we all learn at a young age when we learn to cross the road but here we are, several (ok, many) years later learning how to do this for our mental wellbeing. Here’s how it works;


Stop


Exactly that. Stop what you are doing. Take a deep breath, make yourself a drink, and calm down. You need to break the cycle of becoming overwhelmed and getting run down. So, in those moments when you start to feel overwhelmed, stop what you are doing and take a minute to calm down and reflect on the situation. Removing yourself from the situation can be just what it takes to reduce the anxiety it induced. If you need a way to instantly relax the use of essential oils such as Bergamot, Chamomile and Lavender, can help to reduce anxiety. We also recommend the new Forest Therapy Wellness Mist by Aromatherapy Associates which contains a hand-blended combination of Pink Pepper, Cypress, Ho Wood and Juniper Berry to immerse your senses in a caring and emotionally healing experience and bring a moment of clarity to your day.


Look

When you have stopped for air for long enough you should then look at what was causing you to feel overwhelmed, and how to prevent it in the future. Starting the day calmly and positively will help you to feel more in control. Aromatherapy Associates Revive Morning Roller Ball contains mood-enhancing Grapefruit essential oils and stress alleviating Neroli and its portable delivery system means you can access refreshed energy anytime or place.
A nutritious breakfast can help you start the day with a better mindset and eating foods containing tryptophan, such as milk, bananas, oats and soy, may ease feelings of anxiety.
Look at the specific issues that cause you to feel anxious and work out practical solutions to help deal with them.



Listen


This is important! Listen to what your body is telling you. If you feel tired, rest. If you can’t nap or sleep some time out such as reading a few pages of a book or magazine, can help reset your equilibrium. Are your muscles aching or body feeling stiff? Book a massage to work out those knots and reduce tension. Stress can be eased with a warm bath, brisk walk or why not indulge yourself with a spa day to recharge your batteries and give yourself some therapeutic relaxation time. The hormone Cortisol is produced in response to stress, and a 60-minute massage can cause a 30 per cent reduction in Cortisol levels.
Serotonin is also shown to be increased by around 28 per cent after receiving a massage and will help to ease feelings of anxiety and depression.

It is important to implement self-healing practices in your day to day life to help emotional and physical wellbeing. Being proactive when dealing with negative emotions is key to avoiding those emotions taking over your life. If your feelings over anxiety are concerning you always seek the advice of a medical professional.

Elements Boutique Spa is an award-winning, luxury spa set amongst the Somerset Levels in Somerset. To book a spa day, massage, facial, or any of our treatments, please get in touch. Email spa@windmillretreat.co.uk or call 01823 698951


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