How can I help myself cope with stress, while also ensuring I can enjoy the things I should?

Thank you for reaching our with your question. It is understandable that you might be feeling overwhelmed as I think most of us go through that. There can be a lot of stressors and overwhelming situations that we encounter. I am not sure about your exact situation, but some of those things may include relationships, work, parenting, the pandemic, etc. I would take time to think about what are your current stressors. This can help you to see and understand where you are expending your energy and if there is any place that you can make any modifications. 

Stress can be overwhelming and can impede our lives everyday. It is important to see how we are letting stress impact us and how we can work to mitigate any negative impacts. How do you currently cope with stress? Do you ignore it or work to confront it head on? 

You mention that you do not have much motivation currently. How long have you noticed this? Are there times where you are more motivated? What are some things that might be motivating to you? (For example, reading a good book, going for a walk alone, eating a delicious meal, etc.) Sometimes we can neglect ourselves and put others first. You may want to prioritize even 5 minutes a day to dedicate to nurturing yourself. It sounds like you may be focused on things that have happened in the past and that is taking you away from the present moment. One simple way to check in the present moment is to take a deep breath, hold for 3 seconds, and exhale for 3 seconds. It seems quite simple yet can allow you to check in physically and notice any areas of tension.

Some helpful coping strategies may include:

• Keep a positive attitude – sometimes the way you think about things can make all of the difference. Your attitude can help offset difficult situations. Accept that there are events you cannot control – when you know there are times when you have given all that you can to a situation, it allows you to expend energy where it can be more effective. It can be important to identify what is within your control and what is not to be able to let go of those things.
• Learn to relax – purposeful relaxation, such as deep breathing, muscle relaxation and meditation is essential in training your body to relax. Relaxation should be a part of your daily regimen. Be active regularly – being active also helps your body more easily fight stress because it is fit. This may involve a short walk or doing a dance video game.
• Eat well-balanced meals – staying on track with healthy eating habits is a great way to manage stress. Cooking can also be a way to engage in the present moment.
• Rest and sleep - your body needs time to recover from stressful events, so sleep is an important part of caring for yourself. You may want to look into developing a sleep routine if you do not already have one, that may involve winding down before going to sleep.

Hopefully some of these tips will be helpful to you. It can be challenging to change your way of thinking or your current habits, but it can be very powerful in helping you to live a more fulfilling, joyful life.