In life, it seems like whenever you get a handle on things everything changes. Moving out, a new job, going to college, ending a long term relationship, or bringing a new life into this world. Juggling everything is tricky and can often leave you feeling like you are stuck in a rut. But the truth is, learning and adapting is what helps us grow and face new challenges.
Being on top of everything all the time is not possible and if you’re trying to shoot for perfection you might burn out. My boyfriend taught me a lesson when I was trying to tackle more projects than I can handle.
I finished my first semester, started a full-time summer job while having another part-time one, was studying to become a nutrition coach and trying to take care of our new place. I was exhausting myself. I was learning how to manage by shoving everything together and started getting angry all the time because of how tired I was making myself.
He told me adjusting is growing, and learning helps us develop into better versions of ourselves. Through these stressful events, other parts of my life that I forgot about started to consume my mood. The self image I had was tarnished because I was spreading myself too thin — I gave half effort to everything I did.
Adjusting to new situations takes time and patience, mostly with yourself. But learning to figure things out is what makes us more resilient, it gives us strength.
A few tips for managing stressful situations can help you develop better coping mechanisms, and to change and adapt.
The show, “Headspace Guide To Meditation” on Netflix is a great one to listen to before bed or when you have a moment to relax. Each episode gives advice for different types of challenges in life, — loss, stress, anger, etc. The episodes are only about 14 minutes long and offer a great primer for opening your mind to meditation.
“Sleep is an essential function that allows your body and mind to recharge, leaving you refreshed and alert when you wake up,” according to Sleepfoundation.org. Sleep is one of the most important ways to give your body and mind needed rest, especially when adjusting to new situations in your life. Without enough sleep your mind can be foggy and the brain cannot function properly.
Staying well-rested is a great form of self-care no matter the day. Remember that you are learning, you are growing, you deserve to relax and be patient enough to adjust. Adversity beats us all up from time to time, but learning to adapt gives us the win in the end, every time.
