I am completely overwhelmed right now.

Work is very busy.

I’ve been working weekends.

I’ve had very little time to myself.

I haven’t had time to do the regular exercise I like to do.

I haven’t had the time to cook and bake.

I’m attempting to process the grief of my Grandmother’s death with the little amount of time I’ve had by myself.

To cut a long story short, I am VERY OVERWHELMED.

On Wednesday night, I was returning home late from work and I felt the tears coming.

I haven’t even properly had time to sit down and cry with the sadness of my Granny’s passing.

I was on the tube and I was flooded with the feeling of being overwhelmed.

I was reminded of last year when things started getting on top of me.

When I was overworking and over socializing to avoid the sadness and depression that was creeping up on me.

And I felt terrified in that moment.

Terrified that it would all come back.

That this feeling of being overwhelmed would overtake me.

And the depression would rear it’s ugly head and everything I’d worked so hard to get better from would SMACK ME ACROSS THE FACE LIKE A MASSIVE DEPRESSION FISH.

I rang my mum in tears.

It was ugly crying.

Snorting.

Snotty.

Choking.

I just needed my mum in that moment to hold me whilst I sobbed.

And I was reminded that I felt like THIS RIGHT NOW.

But this too shall pass.

That I’d worked hard, putting foundations in place to catch me when I fall.

That this safety harness of self care would carry me whilst I felt stressed and sad with grief.

Everyone in their life will have moments of being overwhelmed.

We can’t predict when life will bring us stress, heartache or grief.

So how do we manage feeling overwhelmed?

How do we look after ourselves when life deals us SHITTY ARSE LEMONS?

Number one: Make life EASIER for yourself.

Imagine you are a small child dealing with life’s current issues right now.

How would you care for this small child to make life as straightforward and simple as possible?

Prepack your lunch.

Prepack your bag for the next day.

Pre choose your outfit. Maybe something nice, comfortable or colourful.

Maybe pack yourself a little positive note for yourself.

Batch cook some of your favourite meals so you can have minimum effort.

Maybe cancel some plans for the week so you have evenings in.

A date with your PJS and a good TV show or book.

Make life as EASY AS POSSIBLE for yourself.

Number two: Romance yourself

I am ALLLLLLLLLLLLLLL about this one.

If you were trying to romance yourself (rather than a lover) how would you go about doing it?

Would you buy yourself your favourite chocolate? (Mine is Tony Chocalonely’s Dark Chocolate Sea Salted Almond)

Would you pour yourself a steaming hot bath?

Would you rub massage oil into your aching limbs?

Would you make yourself your favourite meal?

Watch your favourite film or TV programme?

Think of the ways you can romance yourself to fill your heart with love.

Self love.

Number three: Exercise

It’s important to get out of your HEAD and into your body.

Exercise is a great way to destress and pump your body full of happy hormones.

This one is imperative for me.

I find my head get so much clearer after having done some exercise that I love.

Whether it be a run in the open air.

Or a dance class.

Or a pilates and yoga class, connecting your breath and body.

Do some exercise that fills you with JOY.

Number four: Be open with people

Not like your bus driver or the receptionist at work (depending on whether she’s your friend or not).

But talk to people.

Do not isolate yourself or worry about bothering other people.

Use those people who care about you to talk about how you are feeling.

Be open. Allow yourself to be vulnerable.

Maybe it’s appropriate to tell a manager that things feel on top of you at the moment and it is something they should be aware of.

You need to be looking out for yourself.

Your mental health and health is the most important thing.

Number five: Foods for anxiety

Okay, first things first…

Avoid foods which DO NOT HELP ANXIETY and STRESS.

They may seem like what you WANT/CRAVE in the short term but they only increase anxiety levels.

This includes …

Fried foods, high GI carbohydrates (potatoes, white flour, white rice),  refined sugars, and alcohol.

Don’t overdo caffeine.

Increase your intake of magnesium, zinc and tryptophan rich foods.

Magnesium rich foods include seeds, seaweed (including nori), cashews, almonds, cocoa/cacao, brown rice, wholewheat, walnuts, peanuts, shitake mushrooms, oatmeal, artichokes, okra and soba noodles.

Zinc rich foods include seeds, cashews, shitake mushrooms, chickpea, spelt, walnut, cacao/cocoa, almond, peanut and maple syrup.

Tryptophan rich foods include nuts, seeds, tofu, oats, beans and lentils.

A really simple, straight forward to look out for yourself is making sure your meals are rich in these foods whilst you are feeling overwhelmed.

On Wednesday night I got in late and had to be up very early.

So I made myself some overnight oats so I could grab them and leave and make my morning easier.

I arrived at my office with my oats and sat down and BREATHED.

As the Summer is approaching I am craving STRAWBERRIES.

So I’ve made Strawberry Cheesecake Overnight Oats….

The vitamins and antioxidants in strawberries are fantastic for skin. A great self esteem booster. The Vitamin C is also brilliant for immunity which is important to strengthen when you are feeling overwhelmed.

I’m from a farming county and Pick Your Own Farms would always be ripe with strawberries.

3 quarters went in my MOUTH. 1 quarter went in the basket.

Much to my parents disapproval.

My mum hates strawberries with a passion so I must have smelt like a GIANT STRAWBERRY.

I really like strawberry cheesecake as a Summer dessert because the tartness of the cream cheese, and the slightly salty base contrasts so well with the sweet strawberry.

It’s a refreshing and light dessert.

So I’ve made it into an overnight oats as a summery way to start the day.

Almonds are rich in magnesium which is a great mood booster and helps ease anxiety.

I’m very much about putting food in your body that makes your mental health (and self esteem) feel good.

This recipe is one of them.

Strawberry Cheesecake Overnight Oats

What you’ll need:

• 50g of oats
• 1 tbsp of chia seeds.
• 2 tbsp of coconut yoghurt
• 1 tbsp of vegan cream cheese
• 1 tsp of vanilla extract
• 1 tsp of lemon zest
• A handful of strawberries, chopped.
• 5 tbsp of plant based milk.
• 2 tbsp of ground almonds.
• 1 tbsp of cashew butter

How to make it:

• Mix oats, chia seeds, lemon zest together in a porridge bowl.
• Add yoghurt, vegan cream cheese and plant based milk and stir.
• Put into the fridge to mull overnight.
• Sleep sweet dreams. Wake up. Do your affirmations, perhaps. Or perhaps just tell yourself that you’re gonna KICK ASS today. Then….
• Stir the oats. Add a little more plant based milk if needed.
• Top with sliced strawberries, ground almonds and cashew butter.
• Sit down with your oats, take a moment to breathe, remembering that no matter how overwhelmed you may feel, you are taking care of yourself. EnJOY.

Take care of yourselves,

Much love,

Joy xx