If I have learned one thing about life, it is this: Life WILL keep throwing problems your way. How do you clear your head when this happens?
We all battle with anxiety at some point or another. You might find that managing anxiety has become increasingly difficult with so much going on in life, or perhaps everything seems to fly by far too quickly, and you never have a moment to stop, think, and recharge.
All of this can make your head swim with panic, worry, and doubt. It always feels like there’s something else you need to do. While some people love to keep busy, others find it far too stressful, so they need to find hacks to clear their heads.
I say this from personal experience. When I found myself riding that hamster wheel of an ever-growing too-much-to-do list and increasing overwhelm, I knew I had to find ways to ease off, live in the present moment, and keep calm if I wanted to stay sane.
Here are seven tips I’d like to share with you—they work for me and I hope they work for you, too!
7 Hacks to Help You Clear Your Head When You Feel Overwhelmed
1. Make a List
I literally worship lists. They keep me focused and grounded and also help me prioritize my tasks.
If you’ve ever felt like you don’t know what you’re doing or there is so much to do that it’s impossible to keep track, lists can benefit you.
Writing down everything you need to do will make it easier for you to prioritize and accomplish the easier tasks as you psych yourself up to tackle more demanding projects. You can do things the other way around, too. Eating the frog and doing the hardest things first can build momentum and make the rest of your list easier to manage, which helps clear your head.
2. Workout
Exercise is always a great way to clear your head, but it can be tricky to find the time to squeeze it into your routine. Busy people – whether moms or professionals or both – can struggle to get to the gym on top of everything else, but there are other solutions. Early morning workouts or multitask workouts can be a great help, and you don’t always need to spend two hours exercising. Sometimes, 30 minutes is plenty.
3. Switch Off Your Devices
Your devices are a constant distraction. Even when you feel you’re on a roll, you feel like you need to check your social media apps or whatever else you’ve installed on your phone, thanks to the constant notifications.
In reality, you don’t have to, but if you’re always compelled to scroll, turning off your devices for a few hours each day can clear your head as you focus more on yourself rather than what other people are posting in their feeds.
One of the first things I did when I felt overwhelmed was to remove all social media apps from my phone. Okay, I kept Instagram. I confined the use of social media to the web versions of these apps. What a relief!
4. Get Enough Sleep
Sleep is a key component if you want a clear head. Although it may vary between individuals, adults typically need around seven to eight hours, and if you struggle to get that, you may experience regular brain fog early in the morning.
You can use sleep aids like melatonin pills or even Delta 8 Vapes to help you unwind at the end of the day and help find the calmness you need to get to sleep without any tossing and turning.
Inadequate sleep takes its toll on our bodies in the long run. I now set my alarm at 11.30 pm to remind me to wind up and head to bed and this has made a big difference.
5. Start Journaling
If your head is constantly swimming with ideas or worries about money, work, and other issues, it can feel like your problems are never-ending. Journaling can be a fantastic way to focus on these problems and compartmentalize them, which makes it easier for you to find solutions.
I take 30 minutes to journal at the end of each day if only to do a brain dump. This is usually enough to get any issues from head to page and clear your head. This technique can make it easier to work through and you may find the answers you’re looking for sooner than expected.
6. Practice Priming
The act of priming shares many similarities with the power of pause, but it also takes the practice further to become even more effective and ensure a more clear mind whether you’re struggling at work, school, or at home.
Priming requires you to use visualization to imagine the life you want. From here, you can build positivity that you can share with those around you.
If you are priming at work, look for any already completed tasks (no matter how small) and celebrate them. This kind of positivity is ideal for moving away from stress and looking on the brighter side since this can make you more effective and help you clear your head.
7. Focus on Self-Care
Everyone needs to take some time for themselves. It could be a few hours at the end of the day or it might be an entire Sunday of relaxation and recharging. Whatever you need, self-care is a must, especially if you spend a lot of your time looking after others.
You can’t refill from an empty cup, so pampering yourself or doing something you love to do but never get the chance to indulge in can make a significant difference and give you a clearer headspace. I have learned this the hard way.
In closing . . .
A clear head can make a significant difference in your day-to-day life and activities. You’ll find that you wake up with more energy and can focus better at work. When you’re spending time with your kids and family, you’ll be more patient, and this will improve your bond to ensure a happier and healthier home.
