Stress is a normal part of life. It’s actually healthy in small doses. However, with all that comes along with life, it can be quite stressful if we allow it to. If you find yourself feeling super stressed out and aren’t sure what to do, you are in luck. There are many things you can do to help ease some of what you are feeling. Check out these 7 tips for managing stress and start to feel more at ease in your life.
1. Just say no. Yes, it is easier said than done, but there are some things that you are probably doing or have committed to that you could have said no to. For instance, does your daughter want you to cook her favorite dinner, but it takes a very long time? While we would like to please those that we love, there are some times that doing what they want us to do would just put too much stress in our already full day. Maybe you could tell your daughter that you could cook her favorite meal during the weekend or on another less busy day. The same goes for all the other responsibilities that you think you have. Some times you just have to say no in a nice way and give yourself some free time.
2. Exercise regularly. Okay, so your day is packed full of things to do and you are already totally stressed out even thinking about adding another thing to your list. However, exercise has been proven to lower stress levels. Think you don’t have time? Walk during your lunch break or find ten to 15 minutes or longer if you can to get in some sort of activity. Your body and your mind will thank you.
3. Writing is number 3 of the 7 tips for managing stress. And no, this is not the writing that you did at school for a grade. Instead, write about your stress or write about your joys. The simple act of taking some time for yourself to notate your feelings or even make up a story can ease your mind and help you feel much better. Don’t let it stress you out! There is no right or wrong way to write about your day or your week, just do it.
4. Meditate your way to a clear mind. This can take a lot of practice, but if you spend just ten to 15 minutes with a clear mind, you will find that you will feel so much less stress in your daily routine. There are many ways to meditate, but find a way and time that works best for you. A quiet spot and a quiet mind are all you need to meditate your stress away.
5. Organize your life. Whether you are a natural organizer or it is a little challenging for you, you will find that organizing your day and various parts of it will help you feel less stress. For instance, find ways to organize your time if you are always running out of it. Are there things that you can do to cut down on time being spent doing a certain activity? Can you find ways to multi-task simpler things that you need to do? Creating a menu for the week or month can help you organize dinner. Create a calendar to organize your daily obligations so you can see all that you have to do. Having a clear picture of your day can actually help you to feel less overwhelmed each day. No matter what part of your life seems like a mess or feels like its causing you stress, be creative in organizing to help cut down on the stress they cause.
6. Get enough sleep. You heard that right, but it is so important to your physical and mental state. When you are rested, you are better able to deal with all the things that come your way each day. If you aren’t getting enough sleep currently, try going to bed 15 to 30 minutes earlier for a few days and see how much better you feel. Continue this pattern of going to bed earlier or sleeping later until you are getting around eight hours of sleep every night.
7. Delegate jobs. You’ve probably figured out by now that you can’t do it all by yourself. While there are some things you can say no to, you can’t say no to everything. For certain things in your day, delegate them to someone who is capable of doing them. When others are helping you in your life, you will find that you have so much less stress. Can your children or husband cook dinner a few nights a week? Can your co-worker do some of the tasks you have on your plate? Think about the tasks in your life that are overwhelming you and see if you can find a way to delegate them to someone who can help you out.
Stress is unfortunately a part of life. The good news is, you can do certain things in your life to help you feel less overwhelmed with all that you have going on. Try one or all of these tips and you will find that your life can be much more peaceful and you will feel less stress.