How to Prepare Yourself for a Stress-Free Weekend?
Here is something I think you can relate to: the crushing feeling of being overwhelmed. With another weekend approaching, this is how I found myself earlier today. There were so many things to do: household chores, work piling up, the necessity of coming up with activities to keep the kids engaged, an overflowing inbox—the list just seemed to keep on growing…
Yet, just a few hours later, I was walking around in a state of peace and tranquility. What had I done to transform my day? Nothing magical. Here is what I did, and which might be helpful for you, too:
Take a step back. “Touching grass” stems from spending too much time on the internet, and there is a lot of wisdom in this phrase. By just going outside and getting some fresh air, you can gain some new perspectives. Perhaps things aren’t as bad as they seemed mere moments ago?
Write down all the to-dos. Sit down with a piece of paper and list every single pending task, irrespective of its importance, that has been swirling around your mind. When something is physically represented, it automatically becomes so much easier to address. So get those fleeting thoughts out of your head and onto a piece of paper. Now.
Prioritize your “MUST-dos”. I divided down my tasks into the following categories:
Tasks that absolutely MUST be done today/tomorrow (prior to the weekend).
Tasks that can wait and can be tackled on Monday.
Tasks that will be handled throughout the coming week.
Tasks that, in fact, are not required, and can be safely DELETED. Perhaps this list is longer than you might think?
The above technique is not exactly rocket science, and you have probably applied something similar to organize your days in the past. Beyond this, I want to also share an even more important reminder:
1. First, you are not alone. Everyone feels overwhelmed from time to time, including the most organized and accomplished people in the world. What matters is whether you actually do something about it.
2. Second, you will be okay. Sometimes, in the midst of overwhelming feelings, we forget how to deal with certain situations. So, a little reminder of an actual technique might be exactly what you need right now. To achieve peace of mind, sometimes all you really need to do is take a deep breath, sit down, write down your tasks on a piece of paper and prioritize.
So, now that you know how to become less overwhelmed, get ready to enjoy the weekend. Make sure to disconnect from whatever is keeping you away from spending peaceful and quality time with yourself, your family, and your friends. The to-do list will patiently wait for your return come Monday morning.
