Stress Management And Time Management: How They Go Hand-In-Hand

There are many stressors that many of us have had to face since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. I have previously written about ways to destress, and this post I am aiming to provide even more ways that are simple yet effective. I am also going to talk about apps that can be downloaded on smartphones that are beneficial in managing our stress. I will also be talking about ways to manage time for effectively as that can be a big contributor to stress. 

1) Have a notebook where you can write down your thoughts and feelings.

Being able to write things down can be beneficial in managing stress because it allows us to see what we are feeling physically. By being able to see this in writing, it can help us look for solutions to these stressors. Another helpful tool is to write down a list of things that are acting as stressors in our life and then putting them in order of how challenging they are. This can help us put things into perspective and allow us to focus on these stressors in a more efficient manner instead of feeling completely overwhelmed by everything. Being able to write down stressors and then being able to organize them into tasks that we can tackle can help us feel like we have more control over our stress. Another great thing about writing things down is that we can even use our phones to do this, which could be helpful when we are out and don't have the space or time to actually write in a notebook. It can also be helpful since you would nearly always have access to a phone so you can write or check on your past notes. 

2) Make a schedule for the things you want to accomplish in the day.

Time can make us feel stressed out, especially if we feel like we don't have enough time in the day to complete the tasks we would like to. Planning out your day can be beneficial in helping manage stress because it can provide structure to the day and support in that sense. While sticking to the schedule is helpful, don't be too hard on yourself if you can't stick to it closely. It's more of like a frame to help guide you through the day so that you can set aside time for what you want to accomplish. I personally did this when I was trying to exercise more regularly and it helped me a lot to know that I was supposed to set aside a certain amount of time per day in order to exercise. It helped me create a pattern that I could stick to which then helped me form a habit of exercising regularly. 

3) Practice meditating.

There are many free resources for meditating and they can be easy to accomplish at home. There is an app called Smiling Mind that is free and has meditation programs for all ages. Meditation can be beneficial in allowing us to center ourselves and calm down our bodies. It can feel awkward but with more practice, it can become more comfortable. There are many videos on YouTube as well that are easy to follow for beginners. I will share some of my favorites with you all. Meditation can be done at any time of day, especially whenever you feel like you need to re-center your mind and body. I have included shorter videos that can easily be accomplished even during a busy day, but if time allows, a longer session could be more beneficial too. If you decide to plan out your day, writing in a time for meditation could definitely help. Setting time aside in your day to focus on your mind and your body is a great act of self-care. 

4) Use a productivity app or timer to stay focused.

When we are stressed, our mind may be jumbled and unable to focus on a certain task. Setting a timer can be helpful in keeping us focused. For example, if you need to study or work on a project, setting up a timer for 25 minutes of work and 5 minutes of break time in-between can be helpful in getting the task done without getting bored or distracted since there is time designated to have as a break. As someone who gets distracted very easily, this is very helpful for me and it allows me to accomplish tasks faster since I am dedicating myself to focusing for a certain amount of time. This is called the Pomodoro technique, and there is an app called Focus Keeper based on this technique but as I mentioned earlier, it can be accomplished with a simple timer. There are other apps that can be useful in keeping us off of our phones or distracted by the Internet. There is a Chrome extension for free (it is also available as an app for a small cost) called Forest. It grows a tree while you study but if you stray from your task, the tree falls and you have to restart the growth. There is an app called Kanban Flow which is dedicated to creating a schedule for you to follow in your day, so this can be helpful if time management is something that you want to accomplish. 

5) Create or find a calming playlist.

There are many calming playlists on YouTube and music streaming services that contain music without lyrics. These types of songs can be beneficial in helping us focus and also calm down. It could be beneficial to find a playlist that is a certain amount of time long, such as 30 or 60 minutes, and start listening to it when you want to calm down and/or focus. When the playlist is over, then you could take a break before resuming to work or moving on to a different task. Just as the other resources discussed earlier, this is free and can be effective in helping us manage our time and stress. I think it is important to try new things especially if they are free and accessible (to most). My favorite playlists are usually remixes of songs from my favorite movies or video games, they are enjoyable and calming as they are familiar but not distracting. There are so many varieties of these playlists on YouTube so everyone is bound to find one they like regardless of their music taste. Ambient sounds can also beneficial as well, especially if you are wanting to relax and/or fall asleep. I will share some of my personal favorites and some ambient noise playlists as well. 

I hope that these tips and resources can help you manage both time and stress more efficiently. it is important that we take care of our minds and bodies while also dealing with the stressors and demands of our lives. You are important and making time to make yourself feel important is necessary. We are given one mind and body, so we should take care of what we have in what ways we can manage.