Improve your mental health. Empty the bucket

Wix.com

Everyone deals with stress. It's a universal truth. But how we handle it is what makes all the difference.

I'll tell you a little story. My days recently became so packed that I started missing out on things I loved. The gym? No time. My guitar? Collecting dust. I was procrastinating on everything and my brain felt like it was running on empty.

I've always believed in the power of "yes." Someone needed help? I'd say yes. An extra project came my way? Yes. I would stretch my schedule to make room for anyone and anything that came flowing in. I thought I was being a hero, doing the "right" thing. Little did I know, I was draining my energy day by day, filling up my stress level without even seeing it.

Then, something happened in my 'Personal Development and Employment' class. My lecturer introduced us to the concept of the "Stress Bucket." The name hit me instantly—it felt like he was talking directly to me. I leaned forward, thinking, This is the therapy session I've been waiting for. I took notes on every single word.

What I learned surprised me. Stress isn't always a bad thing. In the right amount, it can actually motivate us to meet deadlines and complete tasks. The problem is when we have too much. I realized my overflowing stress was coming from work, financial worries, school, family, and a lack of sleep. All of these are things that can be managed and balanced.

After that class, I felt a sense of relief wash over me, like I had just finished a deep meditation. I took a deep breath, and the words "the stress bucket" came out of my mouth. A sigh of relief. My life would never be the same. I needed to unload.

What is the Stress Bucket?

Developed by Brabban and Turkington (2002), the stress bucket is a powerful visual tool for managing the buildup of stress in our lives.

Think of it like this: you carry around a bucket that fills up with all the different kinds of stress you experience. When your bucket is full, you feel overwhelmed. The tool helps explain the nature of stress, how it works, and how to keep it from overflowing. On some days, you might feel like you can handle a lot, while on others, your bucket might fill up quickly.

Cleaning My Closet

My personal stress bucket has taps at the bottom. These taps are your way of letting stress out so the bucket doesn't overflow. I've decided to use this tool as a daily instrument to manage my stress.

By focusing on opening those taps, whether it's through exercise, a hobby, or simply saying "no", I'll prevent the stress input from exceeding the stress output.

As Beenish Najam wisely said, "You are what you consume. Not just physically, but mentally too."