Simple Ways to Stress Less
Simple Ways to Stress Less
When was the last time you felt relaxed? The world around us has never been this crazy, and it’s easy for stress to build up without you realizing what is happening. After a while, you might think that feeling irritable, sad, or restless is just your natural state.
Chronic tension affects your body and mind negatively. It can weaken your immune system and increase your risk for many health issues, including heart disease and diabetes.
The stress that presents itself in our lives will happen, but you can control how they affect you. Try these ideas for building your resilience and creating a calmer personal space.
Increasing Your Resilience:
- Slow down. You’ll probably accomplish more if you stop rushing around. Cut your to-do list down to a realistic size. If you’re at work, TAKE YOUR BREAK. If you sit for work, set a timer and get up each hour and move your body.
- Breathe deeply. Your feelings are closely tied to your breath. Lie down on your back and place one hand on your abdomen. Your body will naturally start to breathe more fully from your diaphragm rather than taking shallow breaths from your chest.
- Laugh it up. Humour drives away tension. Look for the funny side of difficult situations. Cheer up after a hard day by calling a friend who cracks you up or learn to practise Laughter Yoga.
- Eat healthy. Sticking to a balanced diet will make your body more effective at tolerating stress. Get most of your calories from whole natural foods. Cut down on added sugar and salt. Avoid processed foods as much as you can.
- Sleep well. Aim for 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night. Remember that some people need more, and others need less. If you wake up feeling tired, make small adjustments until you figure out your ideal amount of sleep. Move your bedtime back an hour each night until you can wake up feeling refreshed. Maintain your new schedule even on holidays and weekends. Your body appreciates consistency and will thank you for it.
- Work out. Exercise is a constructive way to handle disturbing news or conflicts and a fantastic stress reliever. You don’t need expensive equipment to workout at home. Resistance training, weight-bearing exercise, or yoga all require minimal, affordable gear. If the weather is good, take a walk.
- Create something. Creativity is an excellent stress buster. Find a medium that you enjoy. You may want to paint with watercolours or sculpt metal. You may prefer writing poetry, beading, sewing or woodworking. Take a stroll through your local hobby/craft store in person or virtually to see what inspires you.
- Reach out. Build a tribe of like-minded people who love and support you. Connect with family and friends regularly.
- Advocate for yourself. Most of us would help a friend without hesitation if they asked for it. Yet, we rarely speak up when we need a little help. Let your friends support you when you need it. Ask for what you need tactfully and directly.
Adjusting Your Environment:
- Clear away clutter. A tidy home and workspace will reduce your anxiety levels. Get rid of anything you seldom use. Donate it to charity or sell it online. Throw it away or store it out of sight if you can’t part with it right now.
- Play music. Use sound to create the mood you want. Put together a playlist for different activities. You might relax with soft piano music or nature sounds.
- Enjoy silence. On the other hand, the lack of sound can also be soothing. Turn off your devices for a designated period each day, including mealtimes and before bed. Order a pair of noise-cancelling headphones if you need to block out noisy neighbours and heavy traffic.
- Decorate naturally. Green spaces are energizing. Spend more time outdoors and bring nature into your home. Grow ferns and herbs.
- Create a refuge. Design a meditation room or space in your home. If you have trouble meditating, you can use it for reading or relaxation practices.
Adjusting Your Environment:
- Clear away clutter. A tidy home and workspace will reduce your anxiety levels. Get rid of anything you seldom use. Donate it to charity or sell it online. Throw it away or store it out of sight if you can’t part with it right now.
- Play music. Use sound to create the mood you want. Put together a playlist for different activities. You might relax with soft piano music or nature sounds.
- Enjoy silence. On the other hand, the lack of sound can also be soothing. Turn off your devices for a designated period each day, including mealtimes and before bed. Order a pair of noise-cancelling headphones if you need to block out noisy neighbours and heavy traffic.
- Decorate naturally. Green spaces are energizing. Spend more time outdoors and bring nature into your home. Grow ferns and herbs.
- Create a refuge. Design a meditation room or space in your home. If you have trouble meditating, you can use it for reading or relaxation practices.
Dealing with stress is an ongoing process. Take time each day to think about what you can do to make your surroundings more peaceful to protect your health and wellbeing. Make small, manageable changes to begin; you will reach your goals faster and easier.