Here are 24 things that you can do to reduce the stress in your life. Any one of these will help, and the more you do, the better:
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- Accept that some things are out of your control. Focus only on those things that you can do something about.
- Do a “mind dump” so you don’t have lots of loose things floating around inside your head (see yesterday’s post).
- Prioritize your time. Decide what is most important and get those things done first, before working on the things that are less important.
- Plan your day before it starts. Schedule your priorities so that you don’t forget about them.
- Decide not to do certain things. Some things would be nice to get done, but are not likely to ever get done. Just decide that you’re not going to do those things and let it go rather than stress over not getting it done.
- Don’t be a perfectionist. Rather, abide by the 80/20 rule: in terms of perfection, 20% of the effort gets you 80% there, while the last 20% can take 80% effort (and stress), and it’s rarely worth spending that much time and energy because the returns are relatively small. Most of the time “good enough” is just fine.
- Be willing to compromise. This goes a little with the 80/20 rule. Be willing to get something done, even if it’s not exactly the way that you want it done, as long as it works.
- Arrive 5 minutes early. Better yet, if you tend to always be late, plan to arrive 30 minutes early. That way when you naturally arrive “late”, you will still be early, then relax with a book, have fun with your smart phone, or visit with others.
- Stay positive by being grateful. Step back and take a moment to appreciate everything that is going right and all the good in your life.
- Learn to look at the bright side, or look for the silver lining. When things seem to go wrong, always look for the upside, some unforeseen benefit. For example, if you’re stuck in traffic, it could be an opportunity to listen to an audio book or a music CD that you haven’t been able to find time to listen to.
- Learn how to say “no”. Don’t feel obligated to say “yes” to everything you are asked to do. Thank the person for considering you, tell the person that it’s something you would like to do, however, you are already booked solid, or you’ve already committed to something else, and then wish the person luck in finding someone else to do it.
- Avoid alcohol, cigarettes, and non-prescription drugs. Any relief is only temporary and they cloud your mind, which doesn’t help you deal with the stress. Plus they interfere with sleep.
- Avoid people and/or situations that stress you out. Limit the amount of time you spend around people or situations that are stressful, or better yet, eliminate them wherever possible.
- Get your body in motion. Exercise relieves stress by reducing cortisol levels, and a fit body handles stress better. Release tension by going for a walk, a bicycle ride, to the gym, a yoga class, or doing any kind of activity that you enjoy doing.
- Center yourself by relaxing, meditating, or just taking some deep breaths to soothe stress and lower your blood pressure.
- Keep a journal. Writing helps you feel more in control. You may be able to better analyze situation, release what’s bothering you, or you may find a pattern of your stress triggers.
- Do something you enjoy. Read a good book, get out in your garden, or watch a good movie.
- Get enough sleep. Adequate sleep improves your health and helps you deal better with stress. Lack of sleep causes you to think less rationally, which creates more stress.
- Eat healthy. Don’t stress-eat with the wrong foods, it only makes you feel worse. Instead, try berries and other foods that are high in vitamin C to help fight increased levels of cortisol, a stress hormone or foods that can lower blood pressure such as pistachios.
- Laugh. Laughter is the best medicine! It helps to laugh at yourself too. Laughing reduces stress hormones and stimulates the release of endorphins. It’s fun and it feels good!
- Socialize. Hanging out with friends and/or family releases oxytocin, a neurochemical that combats stress hormones and lowers blood pressure. Also, sometimes just knowing that you’re not alone helps you cope better.
- Play with your pet. Who else gives you the same unconditional love as your pet? Like socializing, playing with your pet also releases oxytocin, lowering stress and anxiety. Plus it’s fun!
- Hug someone. Hugging also releases oxytocin, which helps lower stress levels. Plus it just feels good!
- Get a massage. This helps relax and ease muscle tension, and impacts hormone levels in positive way by decreasing cortisol (stress hormone) and vasopressin (hormone believed to have role in aggressive behavior).
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