Are you feeling like you're in a funk and need to get out? Are you tired? Running out of energy? Irritable or easily hurt? Not the same person you feel like you used to be?

This can happen when life gets busy. Sometimes we get so caught up in the important things (like projects, deadlines, soccer games, and bills), and then forget about the simple things!

There are four simple things you can do in these times to help you feel better and back to your usual self:

1. Get adequate sleep.
Studies show that getting enough sleep makes you less tired, more motivated, less forgetful, and more optimistic. Just how much is "enough?" At least seven or eight hours, but no more than eight-and-a-half. Sleeping more than this can result in feeling overtired, groggy, and lazy.

2. Eat healthy.
Our bodies are like a bank - if we only deposit pennies and nickels, we're not going to have very much to draw from when the bills arive. In the same way, if we put junk food or not enough food in our bodies, we are not going to have enough energy to get us through the day. What we eat also makes a difference. Eating homemade meals versus fast food saves on unnecessary (and harmful!) calories, fat, and sugars. Eating balanced meals also gives our bodies the right amount of nutrients we need to perform both physically and mentally. While breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so is a balanced meal and at least three meals each day.

3. Get regular exercise.
Thirty minutes a day is all they recommend. And we all know that "they" are in better shape than we are! Exercise means a focused workout, such as going for a walk on your lunch break, jogging in the morning before work, or taking the dog to the park (and not just watching her run free from a bench). Exercise gets blood flowing throughout your body, it gets your muscles going, keeps your brain fresh, and burns off calories to maintain your body weight. Doing this for thirty minutes a day - minimum - will get you feeling good about yourself and ready to tackle those projects that have been setting you back.

4. Socialize!
This is great news for those of us who are extraverted, and not so good news for you intraverts. Staying in regular communication with other people, such as friends, neighbors, and co-workers, gives us perspective on life that we sometimes lose when we're busy and stressed out. Spending at least thirty minutes a day connecting with other people can help you feel important, supported, and even make you laugh (depending on the person you talk to).

Focus these four simple skills and you're bound to be more prepared for the stress and demands of life!


by Aaron K. Potratz, MA