We all have stress in our lives and it can be a difficult thing to keep under control.
Stress causes us frustration, anger, mental exhaustion, and even detachment from our friends and family. Stress also has a physical impact on our bodies causing a weaker immune system, low energy level, and fatigue. Overall stress can be damaging to our work, school, personal and family relationships because of the rippling effects it causes with our focus, productivity, and motivation.
The good news is stress can be managed. There are a lot of things we can do to help control and lower the stress in our lives. If you take the time to incorporate some of the stress managing tips here, you’ll be on your way to living a low stress life!
Here are 12 tips to reduce stress in your daily life:
♡Keep a positive mind. Attitude is everything. If you approach an issue or a day with negative thoughts, then you’re going to have a negative day because you have chosen to focus on negative elements. Instead give yourself positive affirmations when you’re feeling stressed and challenged like “I can do this”, or “I’m doing my best”.
♡Manage your time Don’t let time manage you. Give yourself enough time to get things done. If you’re in a rush it puts extra stress on you mentally and physically. Give yourself enough time for a healthy pace to start your day and enough time to eat your meals without feeling rushed. Above all, don’t give yourself an impossible to do list for the day that stresses you around every corner. It may take you a little longer to get things done, but you will do it with less stress and enjoy your time that much more.
♡Do something you enjoy Life is not just about what you need to do, it’s also about what you want to do. If you’re not finding something you enjoy doing, then where is the joy in your life? Find something you can do daily to enjoy. It can be as simple as spending extra time with your children before you send them to bed, going on a short bike ride, or reading a book before bed. Find something that brings joy to you that makes the day worth it, and it will affect your overall view of the day.
♡Accept what you can’t control We have to accept that there are things in life that are out of our control. We CAN control how we adapt to the situation and keep moving forward. If we can learn to take things as they come with what we can control, like a positive attitude and perspective of the situation, then you’ll learn to conquer anything life may bring your way.
♡Exercise Physical exercise not only makes us feel good, it’s a great way to lower stress. Exercise can be a great outlet for built up emotions and negative energy like anger and frustration. It’s the negative emotions that lead to our physical and mental stress to our body. Exercise allows us to focus our thoughts and energy in a different direction giving us a break from your life’s concerns. Exercising is also know for creating a chemical change in the body by releasing endorphins in our system which are linked to making us feel good and lowering physical pain.
♡Take time out for tension Be mindful when you start to feel stress or tension, building in the body like a stiff neck, clinching of teeth, thoughts of anger or frustration. This is a time to take a short time out from the moment and redirect your thoughts. Take a couple of slow deep breaths. Think of something that brings a smile to your face, “your happy place”. Lastly, be aware of any tension in the body like a stiff neck and relax. Try walking away from the situation and come back to it when you can approach it again with the right state of mind. This will allow you to be more effective, happy, and productive.
♡Get enough rest Sleep plays a major role in our stress level. Most individuals who suffer from stress find lack of sleep playing a lead role in the problem. Studies show a person should get 8 hours of sleep each night. Sleep is the time our body gets a true chance to rest, regenerate and restore. It’s a time for our subconscious to dream and work through our thoughts and worries. Lack of sleep causes a person to have difficulty focusing, problem solving, low energy, and lack of motivation for the day. We simply can’t survive without rest and when we deprive ourselves of enough sleep, we force ourselves to live an uphill battle every day.
♡Be present in the moment Always make it a habit to be present in the moment and whoever you’re with and don’t multi task. If you’re doing 2 or 3 things at a time, how effective can you be at any one thing? You’ll find focusing on one thing at a time can be more productive and less stressful.
♡Express your feelings Don’t hold your emotions in day after day. Find the right place and time to express your frustrations and concerns. Sort through your challenges and come to terms with them. Then decide what to do about it. I always say “when it comes to issues in life, decide to except it or change it, but don’t just complain about it”.
♡Add something beautiful in your day It can be stressful enough just being surrounded by our work, so add something beautiful to your day. Here are a few suggestions; music in the back ground, flowers in the room, pictures of your family or friends during a fun excursion like a vacation time, choose a room with a view of the outside while you work, or take a 10 minute walk outside. Add something you can see, hear, or do that brings a smile to your face, and it will help keep you in a positive frame of mind.
♡Find time for yourself Personal time is important. People get stressed simply because they have too many things going on. They’re so busy taking on the world, they forget to take time for themselves. Usually a person that’s always busy taking care of others is guilty of this. If your excuse is “you don’t have time for yourself”, then schedule yourself in. Plan time doing something you enjoy on a daily and weekly basis and you will find yourself enjoying your days and not just living them.
♡Have quiet time for reflection One of the most powerful and effective things you can do to manage stress is to take 15 minutes or more a day to have some quiet time to reflect on your thoughts. Learn a relaxing technique like yoga, meditation, or simple deep breathing exercises to help quiet the mind. This time allows you to work though your emotions and concerns each day along with allowing you to come to terms with your thoughts and empty your mind of problems leaving you feel refreshed and stress free which is a wonderful feeling!Stress is manageable and it comes down to the choices you make, your perception on life, and how you balance your time between work, personal life, and rest. Be mindful of what is bringing stress into your life, make changes where necessary, and you will live a successful life of peace and enjoyment.
Stress causes us frustration, anger, mental exhaustion, and even detachment from our friends and family. Stress also has a physical impact on our bodies causing a weaker immune system, low energy level, and fatigue. Overall stress can be damaging to our work, school, personal and family relationships because of the rippling effects it causes with our focus, productivity, and motivation.
The good news is stress can be managed. There are a lot of things we can do to help control and lower the stress in our lives. If you take the time to incorporate some of the stress managing tips here, you’ll be on your way to living a low stress life!
Here are 12 tips to reduce stress in your daily life:
♡Keep a positive mind. Attitude is everything. If you approach an issue or a day with negative thoughts, then you’re going to have a negative day because you have chosen to focus on negative elements. Instead give yourself positive affirmations when you’re feeling stressed and challenged like “I can do this”, or “I’m doing my best”.
♡Manage your time Don’t let time manage you. Give yourself enough time to get things done. If you’re in a rush it puts extra stress on you mentally and physically. Give yourself enough time for a healthy pace to start your day and enough time to eat your meals without feeling rushed. Above all, don’t give yourself an impossible to do list for the day that stresses you around every corner. It may take you a little longer to get things done, but you will do it with less stress and enjoy your time that much more.
♡Do something you enjoy Life is not just about what you need to do, it’s also about what you want to do. If you’re not finding something you enjoy doing, then where is the joy in your life? Find something you can do daily to enjoy. It can be as simple as spending extra time with your children before you send them to bed, going on a short bike ride, or reading a book before bed. Find something that brings joy to you that makes the day worth it, and it will affect your overall view of the day.
♡Accept what you can’t control We have to accept that there are things in life that are out of our control. We CAN control how we adapt to the situation and keep moving forward. If we can learn to take things as they come with what we can control, like a positive attitude and perspective of the situation, then you’ll learn to conquer anything life may bring your way.
♡Exercise Physical exercise not only makes us feel good, it’s a great way to lower stress. Exercise can be a great outlet for built up emotions and negative energy like anger and frustration. It’s the negative emotions that lead to our physical and mental stress to our body. Exercise allows us to focus our thoughts and energy in a different direction giving us a break from your life’s concerns. Exercising is also know for creating a chemical change in the body by releasing endorphins in our system which are linked to making us feel good and lowering physical pain.
♡Take time out for tension Be mindful when you start to feel stress or tension, building in the body like a stiff neck, clinching of teeth, thoughts of anger or frustration. This is a time to take a short time out from the moment and redirect your thoughts. Take a couple of slow deep breaths. Think of something that brings a smile to your face, “your happy place”. Lastly, be aware of any tension in the body like a stiff neck and relax. Try walking away from the situation and come back to it when you can approach it again with the right state of mind. This will allow you to be more effective, happy, and productive.
♡Get enough rest Sleep plays a major role in our stress level. Most individuals who suffer from stress find lack of sleep playing a lead role in the problem. Studies show a person should get 8 hours of sleep each night. Sleep is the time our body gets a true chance to rest, regenerate and restore. It’s a time for our subconscious to dream and work through our thoughts and worries. Lack of sleep causes a person to have difficulty focusing, problem solving, low energy, and lack of motivation for the day. We simply can’t survive without rest and when we deprive ourselves of enough sleep, we force ourselves to live an uphill battle every day.
♡Be present in the moment Always make it a habit to be present in the moment and whoever you’re with and don’t multi task. If you’re doing 2 or 3 things at a time, how effective can you be at any one thing? You’ll find focusing on one thing at a time can be more productive and less stressful.
♡Express your feelings Don’t hold your emotions in day after day. Find the right place and time to express your frustrations and concerns. Sort through your challenges and come to terms with them. Then decide what to do about it. I always say “when it comes to issues in life, decide to except it or change it, but don’t just complain about it”.
♡Add something beautiful in your day It can be stressful enough just being surrounded by our work, so add something beautiful to your day. Here are a few suggestions; music in the back ground, flowers in the room, pictures of your family or friends during a fun excursion like a vacation time, choose a room with a view of the outside while you work, or take a 10 minute walk outside. Add something you can see, hear, or do that brings a smile to your face, and it will help keep you in a positive frame of mind.
♡Find time for yourself Personal time is important. People get stressed simply because they have too many things going on. They’re so busy taking on the world, they forget to take time for themselves. Usually a person that’s always busy taking care of others is guilty of this. If your excuse is “you don’t have time for yourself”, then schedule yourself in. Plan time doing something you enjoy on a daily and weekly basis and you will find yourself enjoying your days and not just living them.
♡Have quiet time for reflection One of the most powerful and effective things you can do to manage stress is to take 15 minutes or more a day to have some quiet time to reflect on your thoughts. Learn a relaxing technique like yoga, meditation, or simple deep breathing exercises to help quiet the mind. This time allows you to work though your emotions and concerns each day along with allowing you to come to terms with your thoughts and empty your mind of problems leaving you feel refreshed and stress free which is a wonderful feeling!Stress is manageable and it comes down to the choices you make, your perception on life, and how you balance your time between work, personal life, and rest. Be mindful of what is bringing stress into your life, make changes where necessary, and you will live a successful life of peace and enjoyment.
~ Daniel Skarie