Are you getting frustrated and rundown from the daily grind? Of course you are. But, it’s just become a part of life, right? No.
I like you get stressed from time to time. Being an entrepreneur that works 10+ hours a day, family of 4, and active in my community doesn’t leave me much personal time and life can get very stressful. While it may seem like you never have the chance to kick your feet up and unwind, there are plenty of ways to help reduce all that pressure in life that has made you one stressed out person.
Here are 12 things that I do that can help you to become a much less stressed person.
- Do One Thing at a Time
This is one of the easiest, and most effective, places to start. Instead of trying to juggle twenty things at a time, only focus on what needs to be done right now. While it may seem that multitasking can be productive, it actually prevents us from completing the task at hand, which in turn stresses us out. Work on your single tasking skills instead.
- Stop Being Late
While there are definitely times when being late is inevitable, like your car getting a flat, this is another area that adds unneeded stress. You have to rush to get ready, speed to get there, and worrying if you look presentable. Reduce this stress by leaving earlier and estimating time more efficiently.
Bonus tip: Save some time in the morning by packing your bag or getting your clothes ready the night before.
- Move Around
Whether it’s hitting the gym after work, meditating/practicing yoga in the morning, or going for a walk during a break at work, you can reduce stress by moving around. Physical activity “stimulates various brain chemicals that may leave you feeling happier and more relaxed.”
- Kick Out the Jams
Research has discovered that soothing music has the ability to reduce cortisol levels and prevent anxiety-induced increases in heart rate and systolic blood pressure – which are all biological indicators for stress. Another study involving surgery patients found that music had reduced stress more effectively than orally administered anxiolytic drugs.
Need to get something off your chest? You can also scream at the top of your lungs if you need to blow off some steam.
- Smell the Coffee
Who doesn’t enjoy their morning cup of coffee? But, coffee may actually help ease stress levels as well. According to a 2008 study, the aroma of coffee beans reduced stress thanks to the antioxidants that the beans produced.
Of course, excessive amounts of caffeine can make you more irritable, so enjoy your coffee in moderation.
- Rethink Your Comfort Food
We all have food that we turn to when we’re stressed out, but those food items may actually help lower our stress level. Prevention suggests that you include asparagus, avocados, berries, cashews, dark chocolate, garlic, oatmeal, oranges, oysters, or walnuts in your snacks or meals if you want to calm down.
- Unschedule
You need to make some free time in your life. After all, it’s really necessary for you to schedule something for every single minute of your life. For example, if you’re invited to a party on Friday night and another party on Saturday, you may want to only attend one so you have some time to yourself. If you can collaborate with a colleague over the phone or email instead of scheduling a meeting, you’ll probably enjoy a more open schedule.
- Get Organized
How easy is it for you to lose your cool when you can’t find a phone number, pen, or your car keys? If you remove the clutter and keep your home and workplace organized, you’ll quickly discover that you can easily find everything you need. And, when you can find whatever it is that you’re looking for, you’ll be less stressed.
- Have Fun
No matter how old you are, you always need to have some fun in your life. Whether it’s playing with your kids, rocking out with your garageband, going to a theme park, or joining a basketball team, you need to make the time to enjoy yourself. Having fun, which could even include some good ol’ out loud laughing, is one of the best ways to decompress and reduce stress.
- Slow Down
As the legendary Ferris Bueller once said, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”
Instead of rushing through your day, take the time to enjoy nature, the food that you’re eating, and the people around you. Not only does this reduce stress, it also can help you appreciate what you have in life.
- Establish Boundaries
You’ll drive yourself crazy if you don’t set any set of boundaries. For example, once the clock hits 6 pm on Friday, you’re done work until Monday morning at 8 am. Why spend your weekend worried about work when you could be outside at a baseball game or going to for a bike ride? You also need to set aside certain times of the day for you to relax. Let’s that from 10:00 to 10:15 am you turn off your phone and computer and do some yoga. It will definitely help reduce the stress in your life.
- Just Breathe
Whenever you are stressed out, remember to just breathe. Breathing has been found to lower blood pressure, help calm us down, and is able to help us destress. No matter where you are, if you spend a couple of minutes breathing in through your belly, you’ll help your body and mind relax.
What additional tips have you found to become a less stressed person?