In this fast-paced world it’s expected to get overwhelmed and stressed out. Stress can significantly impact your life, but the good news is there are a lot of easy things you can do starting today to ease stress and maintain a clear mind.
1. Exercise Regularly
Exercise is not only good for your body, it’s also good for your brain. We are naturally active creatures and when we don’t exercise regularly our bodies and minds slow down. Regular exercise, at least 30 minutes several times a week will feel good physically and mentally. Find what feels good for you, whether that’s running, yoga, lifting weights or any other physical activity. Notice how a couple of weeks of regular exercise makes you feel less stressed overall and allows you to focus easier.
2. Practice Meditation
Meditation is all the rage right now, but for good reason. Taking a few minutes each day to slow down and be mindful of our thoughts, our surroundings and our feelings has lasting positive effects. There are free apps with guided meditations or you can try just sitting comfortably and closing your eyes for a few moments and focusing on your breath. Meditation allows you to deal better with the stress of everyday life and with a clearer mind you are better able to focus on what you need to get done. You’ll be hard pressed to find something else that can change your life with just a few minutes each day.
Find out other great budget-friendly morning routines to start your day off on the right note.
3. Clean Up & Declutter
We spend so much time at work and at home being busy that sometimes we forget how a cluttered house can affect our stress levels. Decluttering may not be a cure-all, but for many people it can feel like they can breathe again afterwards. If you don’t have a lot of time to clean then make it a priority to clean one room a day or do one chore a day, like vacuuming or dusting. Before you know it you will get into a good routine and the everyday worries you have will feel a little less overwhelming in your cleaner home.
4. Manage Your Time
Effective time management can do more than just reduce your stress, it can actually make you more productive. It may seem like you don’t have enough time in the day, but you just need to be more efficient with it. By allocating your time you will be able to focus more on the task at hand rather than thinking about all of the things you need to get done. Read our article to learn how to manage your time more efficiently with this time management technique.
5. Build Relationships
Relationships with friends and family are the support blocks for a successful life. Lean on these relationships in times of stress and be there when others need someone to lean on. It can make all the difference when you have someone considerate to talk to or just relax with. Knowing you have people in your life who care about you and are willing to help you through tough situations has a strong, positive effect on your life. Try to prioritize making time with family, friends or coworkers on a regular basis. If you’re introverted try making friends with people you share hobbies with like playing video games, reading, working out or whatever else you’re interested in.
6. Eat Healthier
Have you ever eaten fast food and really regretted it after when your body just doesn’t feel good? Eating junk food is fine every once and a while, but you will feel better if you make eating healthier a priority. Your body will feel better and when that happens you are more productive and your stress level goes down. Try cooking more meals yourself rather than eating out and add more vegetables and whole grains to your diet.
7. Get Consistent Sleep
Sleep is necessary to recover from the day both mentally and physically. If you don’t get enough sleep on a regular basis you won’t feel your best. Try turning off your phone, computer and TV at a certain time each night and going to bed. Even if you can’t sleep right away the first few nights you are training your body to wind down at this time and get ready to sleep. Better and more consistent sleep means being more productive at work, being able to focus easier and being a little less stressed.
8. Make A Budget
Something that causes a lot of stress is money. If you find yourself worried about not saving enough money, take the time to make a budget and follow it. It can make all of the difference just to know how much you can spend and how much you should be saving without worrying. Read our article to learn the 5 Steps To Create A Monthly Budget.
Financial freedom begins with good habits.
Rebecca & Tiago, theloadedpig.com