Not being in the right frame of mind is like turning at the wrong road junction. And there are certain things that are very hard, and sometimes dangerous, to try and do in the wrong frame of mind – driving a car, completing a piece of homework, cooking dinner. And sometimes it’s very hard to try and fix that and put yourself in the right frame of mind.

If you’ve found something that works for you and helps you to clear your mind, then that’s fantastic. Keep using your tools, and if you find other coping mechanisms, add those into your toolbox, too.

If, however, you find it impossible to put yourself in the right frame of mind within time to complete a task, then take a step back for a bit. Sometimes, trying to complete a task in the wrong frame of mind can be detrimental and can cause bad anxiety. If you can take a step back and try and calm your mind by doing something relaxing like exercise, or watching TV, then you will find that returning to the task later will be less stressful. You will find yourself much more productive if you complete a task with a clear head.

You could spend hours on a simple thing which would usually take you ten minutes, if you approach it with the wrong frame of mind. If you’re stressed, worried or sad, then trying to go about day to day tasks can seem like a mammoth job. Try and take yourself away for a little while, have some time to be calm and relax, and then approach the task again. I promise you, it’ll be just that little bit easier.