(Great British Baking Show anyone?)

Ever have something going on where you just don’t know what to do but know you need to do something? This can either be caused by stress, anxiety, or some other trigger.

So what do we do about it? Do something – anything – to get that extra energy/feeling out of your system. There are a few options for how to do this:

Exercise – get to the gym, outside, or your living room and just get your heart rate up so that you can dispel the pent up energy that’s been making you feel funky. Often this one is what is most effective for me.

Get Creative – This can mean crafting, writing, or my favorite LEGOS! Use your mind for something different that engages another part of your brain.

Make something tangible– For me, this is baking. When I don’t know what to do but don’t have the energy for exercise or creativity, I bake. Which requires some creativity and problem solving, but most importantly it physically produces something which makes me feel like I’ve done something good. (Can you tell that I’m an enneagram 3?)

A note on not so positive coping:

• Alcohol
• Emotional Eating

These serve the same purpose of self-soothing, but the negative effects they have on the body negate the perceived positive impact of alleviating the distress.

Long story short – find what works for you to help you cope with whatever life throws at you and try to find options that don’t negatively affect you in the long run. You’ve got this!