Lighten THE LOAD

From people-pleasing to decision fatigue, free yourself and make this your happiest holiday season ever

- JENNY ROWE

Ever feel like something's holding you back? We count down the days to summer every year then it arrives, and we often find ourselves distracted by daily stresses, weighed down by seemingly unsolvable dilemmas or just too tired to get stuck in. Well, today's the day. Whether you're seeking relief from a mental, emotional or physical burden, our experts are at hand with their advice on how to fix your overload issues and resume operation at full power.

Achieve mental clarity

NARROW DOWN YOUR OPTIONS

Big life decisions are undeniably a huge drain on mental energy. But even a series of small, mundane choices can accumulate and put a downer on your day. 'When there are too many options, we consider each one carefully, weighing the pros and cons and trying to anticipate each potential outcome,' says counselling psychologist Dr Rina Bajaj (rinabajaj.com). This can lead to decision fatigue and/or analysis paralysis.

TRY IT 'Reduce your options by setting criteria for what you are looking for, eliminating anything irrelevant, says Dr Bajaj. Asking for someone else's opinion could also help, but be sure to ask the right person!

TAKE A BREAK

One-fifth of the British workforce has experienced burnout at some point in their careers, with women being more likely to report symptoms (22%) than men (18.5%).* But an annual holiday isn't the only solution. Regular short breaks throughout the day are vital if you want your brain to maintain a high level of output.