a psychologist’s 6 steps to putting your life in order

Mental load, chronic fatigue, difficulty making decisions… These are all signs that should put you on the right track: your daily life is flying by without you realizing it. Maybe it’s time to get your life in order. “If you feel general discomfort, you feel overwhelmed or you are in a permanent state of stress, it is certainly because you are overwhelmedexplains Amélie Boukhobza, clinical psychologist. Maybe you ask yourself a lot of questions or you’re constantly running, you probably need to get your priorities in order.”

You need to start by realizing that something is wrong in your life. “Generally, you tell yourself that things aren’t going well, that you can’t take it anymore, or you feel overwhelmed, continues the psychologist. You feel like you have to manage too many things without being able to prioritize, that you can’t cope and that you no longer have time for yourself.” To put your life in order, there are 6 steps to follow according to this expert:

1. Sorting at home: “Take action in your home. Start by tidying up outside when you are overflowing inside. Sort, tidy, clean, classify, organize and throw away. By acting on your environment, you bring clarity around you and you bring well-being to your mental space. You get rid of what clutters you and what adds to your mental load. You will feel liberated, with less weight.” Disorder is loss of control.
2. Write down what is weighing you down:Take a piece of paper and a pen and make lists to identify what needs to be put in its place.” You can also write words or sentences and even ask yourself questions in writing.
3. Reorganize your schedule: “Depending on your work and your possibilities, you need to set aside time for yourself. Everyone needs time and in our time, it is necessary to impose on ourselves these times which we sorely need and which do us enormous good.” Forget about doing things quickly and poorly, instead dedicate time to each task, such as time to answer your emails, time to clean your kitchen or time to make appointments by telephone. You will thus have the feeling of having been effective, which will fill you with satisfaction.

4. Accept not to do everything: over-demand, whether family, social or professional, exerts constant pressure. “To lighten your mental load, put your cell phone aside, avoid scrolling on social media and checking your messages. You need space and time to refocus on yourself. You need space and not to add burden to your already overloaded mind. You must no longer let yourself be overwhelmed.” For the same reasons, it is necessary shaving to say “no” to preserve your energy and mental well-being. Saying no means you respect yourself. It’s a way to set boundaries and preserve your personal space.
5. List what is really a priority: this can help to have an organized view of the activities to plan. “Your to-do list must be clear and clear. When you have accomplished a task, cross it off. This quick and simple act will bring you complete satisfaction” says Amélie Boukhobza.
6. Resume a healthy lifestyle: “A balanced diet combined with regular physical activity and, above all, quality sleep contributes to general well-being. Taking care of yourself, your skin, your physical appearance also helps release happy hormones and reduce stress levelsadds Madame Boukhobza. You will be more inclined to take action by taking care of yourself every day and having a healthy lifestyle. You will learn to take care of yourself rather than tossing around and losing efficiency.”

If despite your efforts chaos still reigns around you, do not hesitate to seek help from a psychologist. “If you are overwhelmed by your questions, don’t know where to start or don’t know what to do, you will find advice from mental health professionals. A psychologist will help you regain some form of sovereignty over your life.”