It's much harder to cope with things when you are tired. The mechanism in our brains that keeps us from being overwhelmed requires a lot of energy, and when we are tired it no longer functions properly.

Why is it important to know that? For same reason it's important to know that your car won't run without fuel. If you're feeling down and you're tired too, give yourself a break! Don't be so hard on yourself... there is a good reason why you feel as you do.

Once you realize that, a glimmer of hope appears because you know you'll feel better in morning. Try to divert your attention away from what is bothering you. If it is only bothering you because you are tired, give it a rest until tomorrow when your energy is back. Here are some ideas to try:

1. Spend your time doing low-brain activities, such as opening mail if you can't allow yourself to "goof-off".

2. If you have to press on because of deadlines, for example, take a nap or eat something that will give you more energy.

3. Take a walk. Get away from pressure and let your mind relax. Give yourself this gift; you deserve it!

The main thing to remember is this: it's much harder to cope with life's stresses when you're tired. Get into habit of recognizing that fact and put your worries to bed long before you get there yourself.

3) Identify and write down mental tape loops that you finding yourself repeating. By knowing what these are you can watch it instead of take it as your own identity. The more you "see" dramas less you react from within them. We all fall into our own melodramas and soap operas and taking a bird's eye view can give us another perspective. It helps us to not "buy into" our own story. Our inner story is something we repeat to ourselves and others and gives us our identity. It's good to step back and see which parts of it are beneficial and which are messages from past, other people or our old identities. Just as a computer needs to have files deleted in order to operate more efficiently, so our minds need to have extra "files" emptied out so we have room for new stories, dreams and aspirations.

4) Keep a notebook of inspiring anectdotes, quotes and tips. This helps to boost one's spirit and also to feel connected with others that have dealt with similar feelings. Put some reminders on your refrigerator, desk at work, car dash board and other places so you can catch you mind and re-direct it in a positive direction.

Inspirational Samples

If you are distressed by anything external, pain is not due to thing itself but to your own estimate of it; and this you have power to revoke at any moment.

~ Marcus Aurelius ~

A hero is no braver than an ordinary man, but he is braver five minutes longer.

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~