10 Ways to Cope With Big Changes in Your Life
The earth spins around, seasons change, people die, but millions are born every day to replace them, and even the stars never stay in the same place every night. Thus, change is the only constant thing in this world. It is ridiculous to think your life will forever remain the same way as it is today. However, people are just as different; we don’t all deal with things the same way; some think that big changes in their lives keep things interesting and fun, but others feel overwhelmed and struggle to keep up with those inevitable changes and need the help of a professional therapist from betterhelp.com. If you happen to fall in the latter category, don’t panic; we are more than you think, and you’re never alone. Some people are just better at hiding their own emotions than others. While we know it is not always easy to deal with big changes in life, we are offering you some helpful tips to keep your sanity in check and aid you in leading a healthier life.
1 Learn that Stress isn’t Always a Bad Sign
Stress can be easily triggered, especially when we go through big changes in our lives. It is just our minds and bodies reacting to the new opportunities presented at hand. Remember the time when you graduated from college? It was a big change in your life, but you were stressed as you were dealing with something new. The same goes for things like marriage, having a baby, or moving to a new country. Not all changes are bad, but our minds take time to start coping with something new.
2 Set Your Own Plans and Schedule
This method may work with a lot of people. Place everything in order by prioritizing your tasks and doing them over and over every day. Plan things out and stick to them as much as possible, but accept that sometimes life happens and interrupt some of your plans, so go with it. On days when things are going perfectly fine, stick to your routine to always remind yourself that you can always have control over the changes that take place into your life; your brain will hardly feel overwhelmed if you are preparing it for what it is happening next.
3 Never Curb Your Emotions
No one is ever happy 24/7 all their lives. Social media can make things look that way, but remind yourself that people only show what they want you to see. Rarely do anyone posts their own failures and disappointments, so don’t get fooled by how things seem. Everyone gets sad, frustrated, and scared at some point in their lives, and that is healthy. It is important to give room for all of your emotions to surface up, so you can healthily let them go instead of suppressing them until they eat you alive. How you release your anger relies solely on you, your hobbies, and your preferences. No matter what you choose to do, rule number one; feel everything. Feel pain, fear, and anger; feel them until they are no longer there.
4 Do More of What Makes You Happy
You have certainly read that cliché phrase for more than a few times, but have you ever considered the true meaning of it? We all agree that life isn’t always fair; it never goes according to our wishes and desires. If something big is going on with your life and you’re too overwhelmed, don’t just let yourself soak into your depressive thoughts until you drown to an unpleasant deep place. Instead, go for things that make life feel wonderful, no matter how small these things are. Paint something, play music, watch a movie, go for a run, read a book, hang out with friends, bake something nice or play some sport; immerse yourself in something that makes you feel alive and reminds you of the small things that are worth living for.
5 Accept Things as They Are
This is the hardest you can do, but it is vital. We, as humans, need to learn that we can’t control everything and accept this fact. The challenges and obstacles we face in life are not meant to be controlled; they are meant to change us and develop a stronger version of ourselves. Learn to adopt different approaches to deal with the sudden changes that life forces upon us. And, remember that this is a general rule and it doesn’t only happen to you.
6 Watch What You Eat
Well, this point may seem a bit relevant, but it is a scientific fact that foods can have an impact on how we feel. On the other hand, how we feel can let us reach for certain types of food as well. It is a vicious circle that we need to keep its impact in mind. For example, most people reach out for desserts and junk food more often when they are stressed or depressed. Carbs are an addictive type of food; they cause temporary happiness by boosting serotonin- a chemical that the brain released that stimulates emotions of joy. While it is okay to reach out for these foods every once in a while, it is crucially important to have them in moderation. Too much unhealthy food can leave you feeling fatigued and unproductive, which may worsen your stress and anxiety even more. One way to take care of what you put into your mouth is by having a food log; write down all you eat in either a notebook or an app on your phone.
7 Seek Out Medical Assistance
Life is hard for everyone; it is even harder when there is no one there for you. No matter how strong you are, you always need someone to lift your spirit up and give you reasons to keep on going. Even the toughest person you know needs someone to take care of them every once in a while. Knowing that it is okay to seek help when you need it, means that you are a self-aware person. Don’t curb that feeling off, we are humans, and we need other people to help us through our rough patches. This someone could be your family member, a close friend, your parent, or whomever you trust enough to share your dark side with. If you don’t feel like telling people about your private life, seek medical assistance. That is why shrinks and psychologists are there; to help you using their scientific knowledge.
8 Don’t Deny the Positive Outcomes
It is usually hard to see the positive things you gained while going through an unpleasant experience. But, trust us on this one, there is always something positive in every situation. Sit by yourself and start writing down the things you are grateful for despite the circumstances. Write down the names of people that life introduced to you during your depressive phase or state the fact that you started to become a healthier person due to that sickness, for example. Look inside yourself and recognize the good in the worst of situations.
9 Cut Yourself a Slack
Changes are overwhelming, and despite their consistency, it is not easy getting used to them, no matter how many times we tell ourselves this. It is okay to lose control at sometimes; it is okay to make mistakes; it is okay to not live up to others’ expectations or even your own. It is totally fine; in fact, those mistakes are what makes you a human being. So, instead of beating yourself up, give yourself a break. Don’t give yourself a hard time just because you didn’t do something the way it was supposed to happen.
10 Think Things Through
Well, the thing about big changes in our lives is that we are afraid because we don’t know what is coming next. To avoid overthinking every situation, ask yourself what could be the worst thing that can happen? Allow your mind to explore all the different scenarios- the best and the worst. Then, remind yourself of the last time you faced something unpleasant, did your worst thoughts come to pass, or was it just your mind playing tricks? Yes, that is what minds do when they are under stress; learn to manage to your anxiety level, and you will realize that things are not as bad as they seem.
Remember that every hardship you face stimulates the growth of your inner hero/heroine. You will come out better and stronger than ever. So, let things flow smoothly and fall into place.