Do you sometimes get those days, where your to-do list feels like a ball and chain, getting bigger every day. Drowning in deadlines and projects. Suffocating in a sea of chores, client requests, proposals.

It all. Feels. Too. Much.

You snap at colleagues and loved ones. Leave house-keys in the fridge. And almond milk on the tray by the door.

And you’re not actually getting anything done because of the heart-aching panic and paralysing nerves.

Fear not, help is at hand. I’m sharing with you three things you can do to feel better in minutes (without punching pillows).

3 things you can do to feel better in minutes

So you can think clearly and effectively, and get stuff done.

1. What am I grateful for

(2 minute exercise)

Step away from your computer, close your laptop, grab a pen and paper (not your phone or laptop).

Set your phone countdown timer for two minutes.

For the next two minutes make a list of things you’re grateful for.

Don’t stop writing for two minutes.

EG:

I am grateful for my fingers to type this message to you
I am grateful for the world wide internets, allowing me to you send this message this minute
I am grateful you’re reading this article
I am eternally grateful you’ve invited me into your life
I am deeply grateful for my perfect health and my wife’s perfect health
I am so grateful Whiskey’s eye is better (she had conjunctivitis – it was scary because our last cat died after eye trouble!)

And so on.

Taking a moment to do this exercise slows down that incessant chatter in your head pulling you down. When you calm down the chatter, it reduces you brain’s fear centre over-activity, allowing the wiser part to work. From this calmer place you will know the next step.

(You might also like this article: 5 Affirmations for Success)

 2. Listen to the sounds around you

(I minute exercise)

Stress and overwhelm are incredibly dis-empowering emotions. They over-activate your amygdala, your brain’s fear centre, causing you to react, be impulsive, and not particularly productive. An overactive fear centre literally shuts down your pre-frontal cortex, the part of your brain associated with prioritising, decision-making, creativity, self-control.

Set your phone timer for one minute.
For the next minute, listen to all the sounds you can hear around you.

EG:

Birds tweeting
Whiskey snoring (I know!! Snoring cats are unbelievably cute)
Whiskey’s water-fountain
Cars shzooming by
Pipe’s making whooshing noise
Fridge humming

There. This simple exercise takes you out of your head, bringing you into the present moment.

You can’t think and listen at the same time. Forcing your mind to listen, directing your attention, steers you away from the thoughts causing you stress, giving you a mindful moment.

3. Send thoughts of loving kindness to three people

(3 minute exercise)

Here’s how it works.
Start with you. Yes you. You can’t give what you don’t have, so fill yourself up, first.

Repeat to yourself these words, feeling the words sink in – just saying them without feeling won’t work.

Sending myself loving kindness,
I wish myself peace and happiness
I wish myself love and kindness
May I be free from mental suffering
May I be free from physical suffering
May I be free from bitterness or anger
May I take good care of myself

In case you were wondering, self-love and kindness does not make you a narcissist😉 Those people are selfish. If I know you, you care about others and have the tendency to place others before you. So chill and give yourself one minute of loving kindness.

Next, after flooding yourself with love and kindness, think of one person, a loved one, a colleague, the person sitting opposite you on the tube, anyone, and send them thoughts of love and kindness for between 30 seconds to one minute.

EG:

Sending her love and kindness
Sending her happy thoughts
Wishing her a warm and happy day
May she be free from mental suffering
May she be free from physical suffering
May she be free from bitterness or anger
May she receive all that she wishes
May her family and loved ones be well

Then pick one more person and do the same for them.

The primary cause of suffering is thinking about yourself. It’s very very difficult to stop thinking negative thoughts. It’s far easier to replace those thoughts with other thoughts. When you think loving kindness, you can’t think of the things causing you stress.

Your turn

Pick one from these three ways and do it right now. Give yourself this time. You deserve it.

Then tell me in the comments below how it went. Would love to know.

Sending you loving kindness and wishing you a day free from mental suffering.