There have been a handful of times (ok, who am I kidding – it’s way more than a handful 😋!) when I kind of lose it 💥. You know what I mean, right? Something (probably very small in the grand scheme of things) really just sends me over the edge and I boil over like a volumetric flask in 10th grade chemistry. Actually, an erupting volcano is probably a more accurate description because I’ll admit, I have a temper. The lava melting everything in its path seems a little more relatable. Has this happened to you? No? Just me? Cool 😑.
Well, if you ever happen to get into a situation like the one I just outlined, here are a few things that have worked for me:
- Breathe. Have the Apple Watch breathe app? A meditation app you really like? Heck, even a timer on your phone? Anything that will help you take a time-out for 1 minute of breathing. That’s right: just 1 minute. Everybody’s got time for that!! Breathe in for 3-5 seconds, hold it for a second or two, then breathe out for 5 seconds.
- Write. Writing can be pure magic. I know, I know….enter eyeroll here, right? I actively avoided journaling/writing for such a long time. Then I tried it and WOW – it has created a big difference for me. So, write down what is making you so upset, your feelings, your thoughts; really anything going on with you at the moment.
- Be present. I worked with this amazing therapist who taught us about grounding techniques. One of the things he taught us to do with our clients when they were really upset was to have them spell things they see. Sounds weird, right? I admit, it felt weird when I started pointing at things in my office: LAMP. L-A-M-P; DESK. D-E-S-K. I spelled colors and everything else I saw for a minute or two and you know what it did? It helped me to be present. I wasn’t caught up in the whirlwind of thoughts in my head. You don’t have to do it out loud, if that helps you feel less weird!
- Hit something. Now, to be clear, I’m not a proponent of violence. I do, however, support having an outlet for intense emotions. So instead of breaking something you will regret later (this has never happened to me, of course 😏 ), hit a pillow, scream into it, hit a punching bag…basically anything that can’t punch back and won’t hurt you by hitting it. (Please note: I am not responsible for any injuries that occur during this activity. Proceed at your own risk with this one.)
- Give Coaching a try. Come on, you had to see this one coming! If you are having a moment, I think it is probably safe to assume that you aren’t taking care of yourself like you deserve. Coaching can give you the space to explore some ways to release some of that stress that you are holding on to. Contact me to schedule a free consultation.
