What is Restlessness?
Restlessness is the inability of a person to relax, calm down, or sit. This happens due to anxiety, stress, or boredom. It is also a condition wherein either a lot is going on in your mind or nothing is going on.
Symptoms of Restlessness
The key symptoms that denote restlessness are post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), generalized anxiety (GAD) bipolar disorder.
How to cope up with Restlessness?
There are some ways or methods that can be useful in dealing with restlessness and getting control over it. Below, I will be sharing 5 such ways that can help in tackling it up-
1. Doing one task at a time
Although a lot of people multi-task but for some it can be way more stressful than being useful. It is better to think in a sequence instead of thinking simultaneously. What works well is making a list of things and then finishing it up step by step doing one at a time. Once you finish one thing you will feel a sense of accomplishment after which you can shift to the next task you wish to do. The main aim of doing everything step by step and gradually is to be able to finish it up wholly.
2. Say ‘NO’
Saying ‘NO’ to something or someone is the toughest word for many people. What makes them fear is what the other person would think of them if they say No. Apart from this they even fear the repercussions as a constant cycle of unnecessary and endless thoughts moves in their mind causing stress leading to restlessness.
To avoid this learning to say no is very important. By saying no you aren’t hurting the person, you are just choosing your priorities. If you don’t like something just say no. This is much better than saying a pressurized and tensed yes that makes you unhappy and uncomfortable.
3. Creating connections with people who inspire you
Creating connections with people who inspire and motive you can also lower down anxiety. When you have someone to look up to or talk to about what you are feeling things automatically start to settle down. The reason for this is that we feel light because of sharing. Sharing with a close friend or your mentor not only reduces your loaded burden but that person might guide you which may end up helping you big time.
4. Break from the Digital World (Digital Detoxification)
Everything done in excess becomes an addiction and loss of control over it can have negative impacts. Addiction from technology, platforms like Instagram or YouTube is quite common in today’s time. It is one of the leading reasons for stress, anxiety, depression, loss of energy that some or the other way round leads to restlessness too.
Constant messages, email alerts, applications popping up can juggle with your mind badly. It’s like a tense hyper-connected environment that you sometimes desperately need a break from.
So turn it all off and take a break. Going all off at once is nearly impossible but try reducing your frequency of checking updates or notifications. Instead, go for a walk, appreciate nature, take deep breaths, do yoga and you will see how peaceful your mind and soul feel.
5. The Writing Therapy
Did you know writing down what you feel is therapy too? Writing not only your day to day tasks but what you are feeling is a very helpful practice. Pen down your thoughts without judging or editing and declutter the mess in your brain. Once you write it down you will automatically start feeling light. Writing always makes you consciously aware and revisit what you are feeling that helps you acknowledge it. One exercise that is recommended a lot is doing a ‘MIND MAP’. Mind Mapping is the practice of simply writing or visualising anything and everything that comes to your mind and then trying to connect the dots.
Such activities also play an active role in sharpening the brain.
So, here are the 5 ways that you can start with to cope up with your restlessness and fight your mind strongly. Try one or two ways if not all and see the difference once you make it your habit.
