ABCs for the Busy HSP
In this bite-sized blog post, I discuss three essential practices for the Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) to maintain calm amidst the busyness of life.
If navigating graduate school and starting a therapy practice has taught me anything, it is how to be a busy Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) while maintaining balance. Due to our enhanced perception and emotional capacity, HSPs have the ability to be extremely detail-oriented and love to immerse ourselves deeply in our work or caring for our loved ones. However, unless we have adequate amounts of quiet time to decompress, we are often left exhausted and overstimulated by a demanding schedule.
Below are a few essential practices that I use to reduce anxiety and overstimulation while happily checking off my to-do list.
Allow Quiet to be Part of Your Routine
Find Quiet moments throughout the day to DO NOTHING. Even 5 minutes makes a big impact. Sit in the bathroom or car in between activities, lay in the dark, lounge outside or take advantage of whatever quiet space you have access to. In these moments, simply notice your breath, allowing your body to relax with each exhale. HSPs are easily overstimulated by too much stimuli, so by giving your nervous system time to decompress and your mind time to slow down, you can reduce your overall stress load.
Breath Breaks are Essential
Take 30 second breath breaks in between tasks or anytime you feel anxious, stressed or overwhelmed. Slowly breathe in through your nose and then exhale even more slowly through pursed lips (like you are blowing a bubble). Do this several times until you feel more relaxed. Slowing the exhale activates the parasympathetic nervous system and immediately starts to destress your body.
Compartmentalize Your To-Do List
Organize your to-do list into a daily, weekly and monthly schedule. Then, prioritize the tasks for today and forget about the rest. By focusing on one task at a time, you can reduce your overall level or worry.
No matter what you do, be a master of your own self-care. What would feel absolutely delicious to do for yourself this week?
