How learning about the stress bucket has helped a person to change their life
To put it lightly, I am not great at managing my stress a lot of the time. Life is full of pressures, demands, engagements and events which can often unsettle us and rock the boat. For me, life sometimes feels like a choppy sea which I am trying to ride with the resources that I have. This fear of the unknown can be worrying for someone who gets anxious.
More recently, I have been trying to recognise when I know my mental health is spiralling. Then, I have put small things into place to ground me in the present moment and look after my wellbeing.
I really connect with the Stress Vulnerability Bucket analogy and try to remember this when things feel a bit rocky. I often recall the analogy, and it prompts me to think what would really help me in this moment.
If you haven’t heard about the Stress Vulnerability Bucket before, you could have a look at our Exploring Stress course. But it is the idea that we all have a metaphorical bucket which is filling with water. The water rising is our stress levels. We can put holes into the bucket to help us to manage our stress and improve our wellbeing. This article is all about the things I do to put holes into my bucket.
Starting running again
The first thing I did to put my wellbeing first was to start running again. I used to run regularly – not far or fast but because of how it made me feel. It gives me a distraction from thoughts. So, when I am running, I can mostly think about nothing else but where I am going and what I am doing in that moment. I started running in October and have recently started to get back to similar fitness to my previous years. I think people think running is easier than it is. It is not just a physical challenge but a mental challenge too and one that requires a lot of strength. However, for me the rewards are worth it. These skills can be easily transferred into other areas of life too.
Other projects I’ve started to enjoy
I also started doing Diamond art projects. If you have never heard of diamond art, it is similar to paint by numbers but instead of using paints or colours you put a corresponding resin ‘diamond’ into the correct place. As these diamonds build up and up, they form a picture. I find this useful on an evening when I want something to fully take up my mind whilst the tv is on in the background. Colouring in is also a way of winding down for the evening and switching off before sleep.
I went to Arch Recovery College a few years ago and took part in their photography group walks. I really enjoyed these and found the more I looked for things, the more I found beautiful things to look at. Now, I love nothing more than trekking out on a walk with my phone in my hand ready to capture some interesting sights. I am looking forward to spring summer when I can do this more often. It is important to remember that you do not have to have a really expensive camera to capture these photos. I only use my phone but have managed to capture many images such as the ones on this page.
More recently, I learnt about glimmers at a compassion course which I went to. I enjoy capturing these moments in a journal which I have created. During difficult times these are nice to look back on and remember positive moments. You can find out more about Glimmers by the following article Glimmers: what they are, why they matter, and 5 ways to find them — Calm Blog (opens in a new tab)
Lastly, I have been using headspace. I enjoy listening to soundscapes on an evening to help me sleep and I am trying to get into doing their meditations again as I find they help me to remain in the present moment more and have a lasting effect throughout the day.
Flow state
All of the above activities help me to stay in the present moment. Anchoring me in the here and now and preventing my brain from spiralling to the past or future. They involve me being in my flow state which I find very beneficial to my mental health.
If you want to find out more about being in a Flow State see the following article – What Is a Flow State and What Are Its Benefits? – Headspace (opens in a new tab)
I hope this article has inspired you to think about some of the things that can put some holes into your stress bucket too!