Staying Steady

We're all stressed out every now and then. Wouldn't it be nice to have some tips to get back on track to the place you want to be. Read further and find out some of the secrets to relaxation, maintaining perspective, and finding your own unique voice.

Do you ever feel as though you are in a boxing match with life who is constantly landing punches on you left and right, not leaving you any space to even process what is happening, and you simply want to lie on the mat and give up? Trust me, we all have or will land up in a situation similar to this, and you need to look no further than the current COVID-19 epidemic for a perfect example.

So, how should a person go about getting out of this hole? How can a person overcome these overarching challenges that seem to have no end? A clear solution, that is in no way simple, is to be able to find perspective in your life. In other words, reflection on your current life journey is essential to be able to understand the problems lying within it.

I propose four ways in which a person can become closer to his or her own thoughts and create a more positive outlook. Each of these ideas stem from lessons that I have learned in my own life, and I hope that you can see the parallels in your own life journey.

Move, Move, Move

Going for a run in a long dirt trail, shooting some hoops, swimming in the ocean, throwing a football, taking a hike, kicking a soccer ball, doing yoga... the list is endless.

Exercise is fundamental to human health in its physical and mental aspects. There are so many avenues for being active; you will be able to find one that suits you. For me, I've liked to get a taste of them all, but I can say that a particular few are most vital to helping me get me in the right head space.

All I need to help ground myself is a pair of running shoes and a path with no particular destination. There is something so calming about the beat of running: right, left, right, left, right, left... It's simply moving your body forward one step at a time.

Throughout the run, I find it most helpful just to let go of all thoughts and stress, and to let my body find its equilibrium. Running helps me stay present, as I pay more attention to my breathing and my body. Afterwards, I feel ready to tackle any problem; I have cleared past negative thoughts and am able to start fresh and move forward.

Get those Zzz's

Seriously, I cannot stress sleep enough. We all have probably heard someone ask you: are you getting enough sleep? Well, it was for good reason. Study after study has shown the huge impact that getting those couple more hours in bed can do for you throughout your day. Whether it's helping you maintain your focus, reduce your stress, and create a positive mindset, sleep is key.

It took me a while for me to understand this, and being a college student, I still sometimes struggle to find the time to get those 9 hours of sleep.

After my first fall quarter at UCLA, it truly highlighted for me the importance of sleep. My entire day after pulling an all-nighter was ruined, and eventually days turned into entire weeks. My loss of focus at times in completing my schoolwork and my feelings of being tired all the time had to stop.

All I needed was sleep, and I will never again underestimate the power of those Zzz's.

Put the Phone Down

Even though it may seem like it, Google and your phone do not have the answer to everything. Sometimes, they can even be the cause of some of your stress or simply make your problems worse.

Social media in all its glory isn't perfect, and sometimes it can help to just put your phone away and be present.

To find your own voice, you must remove yourself from certain artificial distractions that are in the way of your own thoughts. I have sometimes struggled to put the phone down, even though I always try to live my best through the lens of my own eyes.

You can find your own positive mindset, but that means brushing away distractions that are preventing you from getting there.

Who's in Your Car?

One of the best teachers I have ever had once taught me this, and I will never forget it: who's in the car for your life journey? Hopefully within this car is all the family and friends who you know you can turn to when you're down or in trouble. These are the kind you want with you in your life journey.

Those who aren't there to support you and actually continually create problems for you might not be the best passengers. Remember, you have a limited amount of space in this car, so each spot counts.

How you treat others also matters because they don't necessarily have to ride with you if they don't want to. Being a supportive person to others around you comes around, as your close family and friends will always be there for you.

Whenever I am digging myself out of a hole, I know that I have family members and friends that I can turn to come and help drag me out. We all need these people in our lives, and the earlier you define who's in your car, the smoother your ride will be to success in the future.

"You're going to go through tough times - that's life. But I say, 'Nothing happens to you, it happens for you.' See the positive in negative events." -Joel Osteen

I am still working on being able to see the positive side of drawbacks in my life with the use of strategies that put these temporary derailments into perspective, as I hope you can take some of my guiding principles to press on and stay steady.