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You are busy, you feel rushed, you lose your patience and you no longer have an overview. The daily things are starting to overwhelm you more and more and you actually already know what time it is… you are overstimulated.
Time to slow down and give yourself space to recharge. If you are highly sensitive, it is advisable to do this regularly (i.e. daily) to prevent serious overstimulation. I don’t know if I am highly sensitive myself. What I do know is that I came out of the burnout differently. Since the burnout, I have become noticeably overstimulated at times and that is a clear sign for me that I need to get some rest.
In this article I would like to give you some practical tips on how to recharge when you are overstimulated.
1. Music
I am very sensitive to atmosphere and other people’s emotions. For example, being in the same room with someone who feels this way for too long can make me feel genuinely stressed and emotional. It seems as if I adopt someone else’s emotion and that costs me a lot of energy. It works well for me to discharge and recharge through music. Sometimes soothing music such as jazz, nature sounds, but also music that you can let loose to (i.e. dance like no one is watching).
2. Turn off the screens
The very first thing I do when I am overstimulated is turn off the TV and computer. My phone also goes on silent and I put it out of my sight. Precisely because I spend a lot of time at the computer for work, I easily become overstimulated by screens. That’s something I never thought about before. To combat overstimulation by screens, I usually schedule work blocks of 90 minutes, after which I switch off everything, put it away and start exercising, such as going for a walk or reading a book.
Also Read: My Journey to Recovery: How I Ultimately Overcame Burnout
3. Exercise
Exercising or exercising every day prevents overstimulation for me. It gives me energy, reduces stress and has a meditative effect. The way I move and exercise is important. For example, I notice that when I exercise too intensively and for too long, it actually causes stress and overstimulation. I always train and exercise with a heart rate monitor and always try to stay below 160 heart rate. This has made a world of difference for me personally.
4. Sleep and deep relaxation
For me, a lack of sleep and relaxation is the number one cause of overstimulation. I can recommend everyone to sleep at least 8 hours a night. This not only provides energy, but you will also feel more resilient to stimuli. On days when I feel overstimulated, I regularly opt for deep relaxation. You can do this through yoga, walking, meditation, but also by getting a massage. I have noticed that half an hour of deep relaxation can quickly recharge you.
5. No sugar
When I am overstimulated I get a huge craving for sweets. In the past, when I was just burned out, this caused me to binge eat. I still notice when I am overstimulated that I can continue to eat throughout the day. The moment I give in to it, the overstimulation only gets worse. Sugar causes a rapid increase in your blood sugar level, which will make you feel better for a while. Unfortunately, this effect fades just as quickly and your body will ask for more. The best thing you can do at such a time is to choose protein and fat-rich products.
Also Read: 10 signs that you are heading for a burnout
6. Homeopathic tranquilizers
Although you have influence on many things, there are also events in life that you cannot prevent. For example, illness or the death of a loved one can cause a lot of emotion and stress, leaving you overwhelmed. But situations such as losing your job, traumatic or simply exciting events can also cause overstimulation. I have personally experienced that at times when I am very overstimulated, the help of a homeopathic remedy can be a nice support because it just takes the edge off. Personally, I think it is important that you only use these remedies in exceptional cases. It is good to also work on how you can deal with stimuli better/differently.
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