5 WAYS TO CALM A CHAOTIC MIND

Managing unhealthy habits and maintaining balance is key to productivity.

The overwhelming Void — whether from a meeting-filled workday, unhappy relationship, or constant self-doubt — can have detrimental consequences. It makes one reach a state of being so overwhelmed that rather than doing anything, you just exist. The Void creates unnecessary thoughts that manifest to mental blockages which can have several consequences, including mental instability, declining physical health, lack of socialization — and ultimately, unproductivity.

Success and productivity go hand-in-hand. Over-emphasizing success can neglect efficiency, and the consequent extreme stress can even resort to drugs or alcohol.

Avoiding that link requires maintaining both healthy habits and a balanced lifestyle. These are five simple tips that I have found helpful in calming the chaos.

1. JUST DO IT

You're better off just starting something than trying to think of all the ways you could go about it. In economic sociology, this is called the "explore versus exploit dilemma". Professor Gabriel Rossman at the University of California, Los Angeles explains it as:

“Imagine that you're going apple picking. Exploring would be looking around, trying to find the apple tree with the nicest apples that are easiest to reach. Exploit is just picking apples. You could spend all afternoon wandering through the apple field, carefully mapping it, and figuiring out the ideal way to pick apples. But, almost certainly, you're better off just taking your basket, walking up to the nearest tree and picking apples — even if it turns out that tree is not the ideal tree to pick apples from.”

As a Thinker, I can over-analyze the different ways to handle something life throws at me. That's when I become The Over-Thinker. Even if there is a perfect way to do something, you're going to be better off just getting started than contemplating the best way to do it.

2. EAT. EAT HEALTHY.

This past year has been challenging for most. I decided the best thing for me to do was be productive, so I made myself become as busy as possible: I took either as many courses as I could or the hardest courses, joined as many organizations as I could be responsible for as a board member, and added a 7-step morning and night routine to my day. I started taking new vitamins and set up an at-home gym so I could even train my dad. I was determined to not let what I had been through define me, I wanted to be more improved and well rounded than ever before.

I neglected to do one important thing, though: to eat. I didn't do it on purpose, I love food! Neither did I think I needed to starve myself, so how did I land here?

Yes, I prioritized self-care (I even became a vegetarian), but I underestimated how much I needed the most simple things in life. I told myself I didn't really have time to eat, so I would maintain the calories I needed by slurping down tomato soup, vegan protein shakes, and anything else that I could consume as fast as possible. Over the course of a few months, I lost 30 pounds as The Void crept back in.

I knew I needed to change, so with the support of my friends' reminders and my family's cooking, I started to actually take care of myself. I shifted my focus on eating healthy foods that would maintain my energy and benefit my health. Since then, I have been able to become visibly healthier and internally, I have been successfully finding the balance between doing everything I want to do and everything I need to do (and eat) and subsequently, been able to maintain a better perspective.

3. ASK FRIENDS FOR ADVICE

When something unexpected happens, life can seem black-and-white. I struggle with viewing a situation from all sides, which drives me down a rabbit hole of self-sabotage. Misery loves company, so that's when I'd start listening to depressing playlists on Spotify, go out of my way to compare myself to others, or literally just lay in my bed, feeling paralyzed.

That's when friends come in, and I don't mean the fake friends that you don't really know, I mean the friends who you know would give it to you straight. Friends have been able to point out what you fail to consider and help you realize that sometimes, it's not that deep.

4. KEEP A PLANNER

Keeping track and checking yourself is such a healthy habit to develop. I have three planners: one general planner for my work, school, and extracurriculars; a second planner for my social responsibilities; and finally, a digital emergency planner used for unexpected events and alarms. Keeping up with everything can be hectic, but planning in advance — and having an organized system — can help reduce the chances of "shutting down".

5. BE PRESENT

What does it mean to "be in the moment"? For me, sometimes it's taking a few extra minutes to play catch with my dog, Coco. Other times, it's sitting outside and enjoying the view for five minutes while I pray or meditate. Generally, disconnecting from social media is also helpful. So much content is edited, fake, and/or taken at the most flattering angle. Constant exposure to this can set unrealistic expectations and destroy confidence.

In my experience with "disconnecting", I've accumulated higher self-esteem, better mood, and a new set of priorities. At the end of the day, I have no idea what's actually going on behind the camera, so there's no point in comparing myself to what people post.

Overall, the best thing that allows me to realign my thoughts and clear my head is when I worry about myself, laugh at silly things, and take the "Type-A" down a notch. I'm just doin' me, livin' in the moment.

Anyways, I think that's enough thinking, so that's all — for now.