-Stress free living is the stuff of everyone’s dreams, and I’m here to show you that it can be a reality! If you’re looking for some strategies to reduce stress in your life, you’ve come to the right place.
Living with stress is normal on some level, because there will always be changes and little surprises that upset our comfortable life. You do have the control to reduce the stress in your life significantly, but only if you are willing to put forth the time, energy and implement the strategies necessary.
Living in stress seems to be at an all-time high right now despite the news from mainstream media that the economy is recovering. Looking at the signs that 20% of the American population has taken a decrease in wages, doesn’t add up to a “feel good” care-free time does it?
When we talk about living in stress, there are many factors. Many of us realize that a great part of this comes from the economy. In fact, when financial times are tough, we see the anxiety it creates take its toll on our personal lives.
With anxiety comes dangerous behavior patterns and habits. Worse yet, many people refuse to follow sound strategies for managing stress, all because we tell ourselves that we don’t have the time. We dig deep within our memories, and artfully weave in our imagination to create excuses or “rational lies” about why we “can’t” take the time.
For some, they don’t believe they deserve any time for improving themselves when there are plenty of other things to take care of for others. As for many, sometimes it’s just simply a matter of priorities – something else always seems more important.
Many people don’t like to admit it, but sometimes it’s even just not feeling like it… because it just seems like too much work. That just needs a switch in perspective and mindset.
So, how can you improve the state of your life and reduce living in stress? Keep reading for some great tips and advice!
There are many stress factors in our world today, which cause tremendous overwhelm in the state of our lives. I wrote about this in my last blog post so if you aren’t caught up, you can read it here:
Click here -> How To Eliminate Overwhelm: Living in Overwhelm – The State of Your Life Series: 02
Click on any of the following topics to read more…
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Because we as a society are not readily able to deal with the stresses of our lives, marriages and relationships often fail, and more domestic violence incidents are recorded in times like these. While our household financial situation may be at the very top of the reasons why we are feeling overwhelmed and stressed, there are many more.
Ready to learn how to have a stress free life? Below are some strategies to help you. Not only will you learn to simply cope with it all, but you’ll learn how to feel happier, too!
1. Slow down.
Do you rush around from Monday to Friday trying to meet deadlines at work and deliver your kids to soccer practice on time? Wake up early and leave a gap between appointments. Pause to collect your thoughts.
At face value, this may not seem like a productive thing to do, but how much time you set aside for peace will greatly impact your motivation and the value in your work. This is especially true in the morning, because how you start your day sets the tone for many hours to come.
2. Turn off your phone.
Try to disconnect for at least an hour each day. This is a great way to connect with family and friends face-to face instead of texting. I always turn my phone off at 9pm. With the kids, it’s always been called “snuggle time” in my house. If you have created healthy relationships, spending more of your spare time with your family can be surprisingly therapeutic.
Time away from electronics is also important for silencing the endless noise buzzing in your head.
From your next appointment, to your next outing with your friends, to having to call your mother, and to even just what you should eat for dinner tonight… you really shouldn’t be adding anything else to think about. Especially not your friend-of-a-friend’s political rants on Facebook!
3. Pray and meditate.
For many adults, spiritual traditions are the ultimate source of stability and contentment. Study inspirational texts and contemplate how they relate to your personal challenges.
4. Express your creativity.
Whatever your beliefs, you can blow off steam by engaging in arts and crafts. Play the piano or knit your husband a sweater.
5. Live mindfully.
Studies show that humans aren’t very good at multitasking, and jumping from one subject to another creates anxiety. Focus on the present moment to accomplish more with less effort.
Thinking Positive Helps You To Live A Stress-Free Life.
1. Be watchful of your self talk, and be kind to your subconscious.
Treat yourself with compassion. Acknowledge your fears and losses. Encourage yourself to keep striving.
2. Cultivate gratitude.
Remembering our blessings reminds us of how much we have to be grateful for. Contentment is not the same as complacency – never be afraid to appreciate what you already have while you strive for more!
3. Let go of what you can’t change.
Of course, many outcomes in life are beyond our control. Base your confidence on your ability to adapt to setbacks and changing circumstances. Accept uncertainty, and take pleasure in the opportunity to learn and stretch your skills. This is HUGE in reducing your anger level when things don’t always go your way.
How you react to things determines whether you’ve chosen to suffer, or to live in the moment.
4. Laugh it off.
Most of the things that make us uneasy have their funny side. Look for the humor in really bad parking or kitchen remodeling jobs that go way over schedule.
Take Care of Health For Stress-Free Living.
1. Exercise regularly.
Physical activity is good for your body and mind. In addition to burning calories, a run through the park will dissolve stress, and time spent in nature will make it even better. Find a variety of workouts you enjoy so you can look forward to ice skating or volley ball. A worry free life isn’t always possible but with a healthy body your can live a less stressful life.
2. Take nutrition seriously in stressful times.
Diet plays an important role in keeping us resilient and able to deal with stress. Get most of your calories from leafy green vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats. Shift your dessert habits from something processed and factory-refined to a fresh fruit instead.
3. Sleep well. Your body uses sleep as a time to heal and manage the physical inflammation caused by stress.
Go to bed and rise at about the same time each day. Darken your bedroom or wear ear plugs if lights and noise are disturbing your slumbers.
Many people see success with deeper sleep by taking specific minerals before bedtime, so be creative and experiment. Spirulina also happens to have one of the highest concentrations of naturally-occurring Tryptophan of any food, so give that a try – if you can stand the fishy taste!
Simplify Your Life and Create Less Complicated Routines To Help Reduce Stress.
1. Clear away clutter. Clean and spacious settings make it easier to relax. Gather up items you no longer use. Donate them to charity or sell them online. As a bonus, you’ll be able to complete your housework in less time, eliminating another common source of stress. Simplifying your life goes a long way to helping you to feel more empowered.
2. Buy less. Prevent clutter from gaining a foothold by consuming less. Figure out how many shoes and electronic gadgets you really need.
3. Eliminate unnecessary tasks. Streamline your schedule too. Focus on your most important priorities, and avoid taking on other obligations.
This blog post has brought you literally dozens of actionable strategies that you can use to reduce and even eliminate the stress in your life. Even though there are so many stress tips, don’t let the number overwhelm you!
A good, stress-free plan is to implement these tips into your life a few at a time. Soon enough, they’ll become an automatic way of doing things that keeps your stress levels low and encourages you to take action to create the life you desire.
Stress will always exist, but if you use the energy it provides to your advantage, you’ll feel healthier, happier, and more successful!
Now, it’s your turn, leave a comment below and tell me what you think!
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