When people ask you how you’re doing, do you find yourself responding with or hear other people respond with, “just trying to stay sane” ? It’s something I’ve noticed in quite a few of my recent interactions with people. Everyone is trying to stay sane in a world where Donald Trump is President. But on a serious note, life is tried, tumultuous, and can be difficult at times. Mental health is no joke. I feel like its a topic that is beginning to be addressed way more. Maintaining your sanity can be hard when you’re under a lot of stress and just want to be successful. Below are my 5 tips stay sane when life feels overwhelming. Let me know how you guys cope when life seems overwhelming, I’d love to hear it.

Tip 1: pray about it. God ALWAYS Knows what’s on your heart. Ask him for clarity , strength , trust and believe he will provide it to you. Pray about whatever is on your mind and ask for God to intervene. He has a plan and has purpose for your life!

Tip 2: Take a DEEEEEEEP BREATH. Relax. Grab a journal and a great pen and start writing down what you’re feeling. I used to journal a lot when I was younger but stopped during high school. I didn’t understand how therapeutic journaling was until I was well in my 20s. I’m a very self expressive person so journaling made the most sense for me. When you write down everything you were feeling and read it back to yourself, you learn so much. It is so enlightening! You get the opportunity to decipher why you felt the way you did and sometimes you’ll learn new things about yourself! I saw this meme on Instagram ( check out the pic below) I used to be this girl.  I just wrote down and let all of my emotions out in my journal instead of posting it on Instagram or leaving him a long voicemail of how I felt. This method is way more effective ladies. When you make decisions strictly based on emotion we tend to regret those decisions later and hurt ppl we didn’t mean to hurt in the process . Your emotions are valid, but take out time to process them first.

Tip 3: Take your anger and whatever emotions you’re enduring out in the gym. When you exercise your body releases chemicals called endorphins. Endorphins trigger a positive feeling in the body similar to that of morphine. Studies also indicate that regular physical activity results in approved self esteem. After a workout or a run typically follows a euphoric feeling. Working out helps me relax and feel better about whatever situation I was stressing over . Im overwhelmed with a new found sense of energy after my workouts.

Tip 4: Music has so many positive emotions attached to it. Anytime I’m blasting Beyoncé, my mood instantly changes. Pull out some of your favorite tunes to bring you out of that funk. What are some of your favorite songs to blast to keep you out of a funk?

Tip 5: If you need to cry go to the bathroom stall. Remind yourself that this too shall pass. I know you’re thinking this is much easier said than done. Sometimes you can’t always control a mental breakdown when you feel it happening. If you notice you’re about to start the flood works or make a huge scene, go to the bathroom or simply take a walk to clear your head. The bathroom has become my safe haven at work when I need to completely separate work Dayna and go to the person who’s a human being and going through stuff. I think crying has so many negative connotations but it also is so releasing depending on the person. I feel like society makes it a crime to be emotional. Everyone is different which I understand. I think you should allow yourself to be upset for at least 24 hours. The ones who usually tell you you’re emotional are typically individuals whom are emotionally inept themselves and lack empathy and compassion. At the end of the day you are entitled to your feelings and they are 100% valid, but don’t sit on them, especially if you cant logically decipher why you feel the way you do. I think Beyonce said it best in her homecoming movie. She stated she allows herself to be upset for 24 hours, after that she moves on. I think if anything is bothering for more than 24 hours you need to deal with it and figure it out before it deals with you.

These are just some of my ways in which I cope. What are some ways you all deal with life when it seems overwhelming?