Everyone has days where they feel overwhelmed and stress levels are heightened. Many of these days all strung together can lead to a sense of feeling lost.
Feeling lost can exasperate feelings of hopelessness, anxiety, depression, and more. If you find yourself in this state, looking at ways to manage those feelings early on can help you to feel more calm.
In this special guest blog, Erika Rykun explores a series of insightful tips to help you to feel more empowered and connected to what’s important to you.
1. Prioritise sleep
A restful and full night's sleep has been proven to help people naturally feel more energised. It can improve feelings of rest and reduce feelings of anxiety and irritability.
Studies show that the average adult needs between seven-nine hours of restful, ideally uninterrupted sleep. A couple ideas for nurturing healthy sleep habits can be turning off all electronic devices around one hour before bed, and avoiding caffeine during the hours before you go to sleep.
2. Relax and read
There are many benefits of reading, one being that it can help you to feel more at ease when you feel stressed or anxious.
Dedicating a comfortable space to read is an excellent opportunity to promote a sense of mindfulness: allow yourself to sit somewhere comfortable, prop your legs up, rest, and escape in a good book. Allocate yourself between thirty minutes to one hour to read a good book, and start to notice the benefits of engaging with your imagination and feelings of relaxation.
3. Embrace exercise
While exercise promotes health and wellness, for some individuals it may be the last thing they feel like doing when feeling lost, however it's a great way to boost your mood.
Dedicating time for movement each week can help with the stimulation of endorphins release in your brain. When endorphins are released, they naturally help your body to produce feelings of happiness, resulting in improved mood and increased energy. Going for a walk, breathing in fresh air and enjoy the surroundings of nature also contribute to nurturing your overall wellbeing.
4. Focus on nutrition
When you feel lost or upset, it's normal to find yourself turning to food for comfort, or in some cases avoiding food altogether. Over a period of time, these actions can have a tendency to increase feelings of anxiety, depression, and hopelessness, so it’s important to be mindful of taking care of your body; when your body is healthy, your mind will also be healthy.
To nurture your body, start by ensuring you’re eating three meals a day that contain healthy foods, such as fruits, vegetables, and proteins. In addition to this, remember to drink lots of water to ensure you stay hydrated throughout the day.
5. Spend time having fun
Another great way to boost your mood if you’re feeling lost, is adopting a change of scenery. Whether you take yourself out somewhere you enjoy, meet up with friends or visit somewhere you’ve not been before; the choice is yours.
Doing something you enjoy can help to take your mind off any daily stresses you may be experiencing, and help you focus on the positive aspects of your life.
6. Practise meditation
Another great way to help your mind and body relax is to meditate. Whether you’re a novice or an expert in the field of meditation, it is a great way to reduce stress and feel calmer. Here are ten steps to consider while meditating.
Yoga and meditation are often combined as a powerful exercise to help you relax. If you find that you struggle to sit still for a while but you enjoy movement, you may want to try meditation combined with yoga.
7. Put your phone down
Too often, we can be distracted by our phones. Through the evolution and increasing popularity of social media, our eyes can become fixed on our phones and getting lost in the scrolling can ironically lead to a sense of feeling disconnected - remember, we’re social beings in nature, so it’s all about balance:
Try putting your phone down and away from sight for at least two hours a day.
Put two hours aside in your day or during the week dedicated to relaxation.
Be mindful of the temptation to check your phone and start to take notice, without judgement, of the impulse to check your notifications. Self-awareness is key.
We could all do with taking a break from our phones once in a while - see how it feels.
Be kind to yourself
I hope you find these steps helpful. Give yourself the chance to slow down and with that, bring a sense of mindfulness into your days, particularly when navigating challenges in life.
Remember, that feeling lost at times is part of being human - though you don’t have to struggle alone. If you need any further guidance or support, take a look at Calmer’s mindfulness guides and ecourses to help you embed regular self-care habits, or if you feel you may need more urgent support, visit their mental health directory.
Erika Rykun is a copywriter and content manager and is also an avid reader and runner. You can get in touch with Erika on Twitter. Recently she's launched a new website about her passion, books, which you can check out at Booklyst.net.