Something they never tell you when you’re throwing your graduation cap and wearing your gown – incredibly excited that you’ve finished studying and heading onto adult life, is how tedious this new chapter can be. Exactly a year ago, I graduated. As accomplished as I felt, I felt super worried and anxious about the future. I was left in a whole new chapter with no direction; all I could do was ask those around me for adult advice, and of course, how different the opinions were left me more confused.
I landed a position related to my studies in a reputable corporation, and that’s when the constant fight to maintain a healthy work-life balance began. I knew that the longer I dived deeper into adult life, the more anxious and confused I became about the future. The constant doubts about whether I’m on the right track if I should’ve chosen a different job, if I should have traveled, and the list never ends.
Well, I haven’t changed anything up till now, except for the habits I choose to incorporate into my day. I knew I had to take a leap of faith, let go of what I can’t control (aka the future), and simply focus on my mental health despite my current chaotic lifestyle, and here’s how I did it:
1. Always moving your body
I once heard from a health guru that if you feel lethargic and lack energy, you need to move your body. Sounds counterintuitive, huh? Well, the good and bad news is that moving your body has so many benefits, including keeping you feeling energetic and boosting your mood. As someone who trains a lot, I haven’t noticed how effective movement is in elevating your mood until I stopped for a while.
Physical activity releases endorphins (the happy hormone) in your body, which leaves you happier and less anxious. So, stick to a workout plan if you can, and if you can’t, make sure to move your body in any simple way like parking your car a few miles away and walking instead, taking the stairs instead of the elevator, or even doing some chores around the house. Moving my body daily has made my mood so much better.
2. Drinking chamomile tea before bed
Chamomile tea, which I refer to as a magic elixir, is the only drink I can’t live without. For three years now, I have always drank chamomile tea before going to bed. It’s made a drastic difference in my quality of sleep, and anxiety. In addition to leaving my phone before bed, reading, and doing my skincare routine, drinking chamomile tea before bed has been the perfect addition to my wind-down bedtime routine.
3. Taking time to get ready
Because I was always in a hurry to arrive at the office at 9 A.M. sharp every day, I went out in a mess; I didn’t have time to pick up my outfit, do my makeup, and do these final touches before going out. Until I’ll make time for myself every morning to look good. As we all know, looking good makes you feel good, and that’s exactly what I need right now.
With everything in my life being a complete mess, I refuse to leave my house unsatisfied with how I look. I decided to wake up an hour early to enjoy a slow morning routine and take my time to get dressed every day before work. And let me tell you, it’s been doing wonders for my mental health and is such a mood booster.
4. Slowing down
In this world, the grind is glamorized. People wear their busy schedules as a badge of honor, which leaves you feeling like there’s something wrong or that you’re not doing enough if you have some free time in your schedule. The truth is that always being rushed through life takes a toll on your mental health because you’re unable to slow down; your nervous system is under a lot of pressure.
At some point, I noticed how restless I became. I could never stay still, or “just chill” – I had to be doing something productive. I knew that I had to change something because I don’t want to live in survival mode forever; I want to take things slow and actually live in the present moment. So, I didn’t stuff my schedule with work, I allowed myself to do anything I want during my breaks or when I felt like it, I tried to really live in the moment instead of running through things just to accomplish them.
5. Writing when overwhelmed
Writing has been my therapy for so many years – I can’t possibly imagine my life without my journal. When my head is a mess and thoughts are running around like crazy, I grab my journal and spill down whatever comes to mind – no filters, just raw thoughts.
When I’m done writing down everything in my mind, I feel so relieved and my mind becomes clearer. In addition to that, it keeps me from oversharing because I want to let out everything and when I do, I don’t feel like I want to rant to someone.