Your phone can be a huge trigger and source of angst. It has emails and texts, and people can reach you at any time, making it hard to set boundaries. It’s like having an open door anyone can walk through without knocking.You do not have to respond to every notification; you should not be expected to respond to every text. If you are busy, you can respond when you can. But there is certainly no rush or panic.
You can say, “hey, I’ve been really busy lately and not able to get to texts and emails as soon as I would like. I will get back when I can but just wanted to let you know things have been pretty hectic.”
If all else fails, you can join the slow phone revolution and abandon your smartphone for a flip phone.
2. When You Can’t Find Things / General Clutter
Searching for things you can’t find causes more stress than you realize, especially when you’re in a hurry, rushing to get out the door. Home organizers are gaining popularity for a reason, setting up your home with organizational systems that work well for you will help you stick to all your healthy goals – eating better, exercising more, doing the laundry, and sleeping well get a little easier when our space is set up for success. A great way to hit the reset button is to start at home; not being able to find things is a real drain on our emotional and mental energy. Organize that drawer today!
3. Difficult Conversations
Difficult conversations are like a jump in Barton Springs Pool – best done all at once and with complete abandon. The sooner you have a difficult conversation, the better. I have a rule – if someone is doing something that bothers me, instead of telling someone else, I tell them. I try to let them know gently and lovingly what I need and handle it asap. Take time to have that conversation today, it will be over soon and you will feel better for it.
4. Being Unclear
As a follow-up to the previous trigger, if you are unclear with yourself about who you are and what you want, life can be heavy and anxiety-provoking. If you feel stuck, it might be because you have self-doubt about what you truly want. You deserve the best, and if something’s not working, take time to identify it and work to move forward. We can’t change the past, but we have a lot of power in the present to change the future.
5. A Judgmental Friend
If you have a friend who always judges you for one thing or another and makes you feel bad about yourself, get rid of them. Enough’s enough. You’re never going to change them. If someone doesn’t align with the life you want to create, rather than spend any more time agonizing, take some space. You deserve to protect your peace.
6. Bad Music and Uncomfortable Clothes
Life is too short to have bad music playing at any time, and if you are wearing something that is uncomfortable it better look good, I mean really good. If doesn’t look great and it’s uncomfortable, get rid of it.
