I believe you all know and have experienced emotional exhaustion before. It’s not an easy chapter in your life yet you have to face it anyway. But have you thought about how to escape it successfully? It’s not easy to answer that and what works for others might not work for you. But worry not! Here are 7 useful remedies that you can try when you’re undergoing emotional exhaustion.
Exercising
When you are emotionally exhausted, you wouldn’t think that doing exercise can help reduce the stress. After all, it’s another form of stress but physically. However, research says that physical stress can decrease mental stress. According to Harvard Health, doing aerobic exercise is great for your head as well for your heart:
“Regular aerobic exercise will bring remarkable changes to your body, your metabolism, your heart, and your spirits. It has a unique capacity to exhilarate and relax, to provide stimulation and calm, to counter depression and dissipate stress. It’s a common experience among endurance athletes and has been verified in clinical trials that have successfully used exercise to treat anxiety disorders and clinical depression. If athletes and patients can derive psychological benefits from exercise, so can you.”
They also state that by exercising, it can reduce the level of the body’s stress hormones, like adrenaline and cortisol. Other than that, it can produce more endorphins, which are natural painkillers and mood booster.
Muscle relaxation
Stress will cause your muscles to tighten and tense up. But learning to relax your muscles can help to remove any unwanted pressure. So how does it work? First, you need to be in a quiet place where you can stretch out on a sturdy mattress. Then, proceed to tighten each muscle and maintain it for 20 seconds before slowly releasing it. As it relaxes, concentrate on the release of tension and the sensation of relaxation.
Breathing
Who would have thought that breathing can help to reduce stress?
When you are stress, your breathing will turn into a rapid, erratic pattern. While slow, deep, regular breathing pattern means relaxation. Hence, if you practice your breathing to mimic relaxation, you will be in a relaxing mode. Here’s how to do it:
1. Breathe in slowly and deeply while concentrating on your stomach going upwards and downwards.
2. Hold your breath for about 4 seconds.
3. Exhale for about 6 seconds while thinking about how relaxing it feels.
4. Repeat step 1-3 for 5 to 10 times, focusing on breathing slowly and deeply.
Meditation
Meditation is known to be a great way to reduce stress and calm your mind. It’s because meditation can decrease your heart rate and blood pressure, which are physiological signs of stress. Don’t worry if you never tried it before. Everyone can practice meditation. Here’s how to do it:
1. Schedule a time and place that is free of distractions and interruption.
2. Find a position that is comfortable and easy for you.
3. Take your mind into a relaxation mode and let it be blank. If thoughts and worries emerge, acknowledge them and go back to be relaxed and thoughtless.
4. To heighten your concentration, use a mantra or a simple word and repeat it over and over again. Or you could also stare at a fixed object. Whatever it is, your goal is to stay focus on something to help you block out any thoughts and distractions.
Write a journal
Who says journaling only for professional writers?
Everyone can write a journal. It also has been proved that journaling can give benefits to your mental health. By journaling, you are expressing your deepest emotions, thoughts, and fears that you’ve been keeping to yourself. It’s a great way to release the burden you have been carrying around. Plus, it can reduce anxiety, enhance memory, improve your sleep, and lessen depression.
Therapist
Not everyone has the guts to see a therapist. However, seeing one can really help you to sort out your problems. It wouldn’t only help you to express your emotions and thoughts, but can also guide you with solutions to create a better life.
