Not Wasting Time on Stress
Research has shown that time management can lower stress levels in college students. Ultimately, time management involves identifying priorities and using them to set goals. Many people spend time on things that make them feel bad or anxious while neglecting recovery and reflection.
You probably already know how to change your lifestyle to help your physical health and reduce stress: getting enough sleep, reducing caffeine intake, exercising, and eating properly. Social activities and emotional stability are just as important as physical health.
Determine your values and priorities. What are the three things that are most important to me?
Observe how I spend my time throughout the week.
Check if my values are reflected in how I spend my time.
To do this, you need to know what you value. Keeping those values in mind helps you distinguish between what is important and what is not. Procrastinating on urgent tasks can increase stress. Unimportant tasks are not a priority and can be done later. Ask yourself what three things you need to focus on today and feel free to take your time with everything else.
Different Types of Overthinking Based on How You've Lived
People who are overwhelmed by busyness tend to take on everyone else's requests and carry many obligations and responsibilities. These individuals often struggle to say no, becoming exhausted and caught in a cycle of overthinking. As a result, they may not be able to handle what is genuinely important to them.
Procrastinators face a different type of challenge. They delay tasks and often fail to complete them on time. If you have a habit of procrastination, breaking tasks into smaller units and rewarding yourself for completing each small step can be helpful.
Distracted individuals have issues related to procrastination. Distraction and overthinking significantly influence each other.
Underestimators misjudge the time it takes to complete tasks, assuming it will take less time than it actually does. In this case, it's important to set aside time to realistically assess the process of completing your work.
Perfectionists may fear finishing a task or struggle to accept that "good enough" is acceptable. These individuals often take too long deciding on a perfect birthday gift, ultimately failing to buy it in time.
Managing Your Mind
The body and mind can be seen as one. When caught in a cycle of overthinking, the brain's electrochemical activity intensifies, manifesting as biological phenomena through hormones that act as messengers in the body. This can lead to muscle tension and rigidity. Autogenic relaxation is a self-induced relaxation method that involves visual imagery, breathing techniques, and body awareness to find calm within oneself. This method was proposed by Johannes Schultz, a German psychiatrist and psychotherapist in the 1920s. Another concept is "worry postponement," which suggests that it’s okay not to eliminate worries entirely; instead, you can agree with yourself to not worry at this moment. Research has shown that what triggers anxiety is not worry itself but the negative perception of worry. One strategy is to set aside specific times for worrying.
