Illnesses such a as diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure don’t only occur because of poor dietary habits. The root of these illnesses is stress and anxiety. We live in a fast-paced world with more responsibilities than ever before. We rarely get time to rest or get in quality sleep, and this hurts our physical and mental health. Here are some practical ways to reduce stress.
Go For A Relaxing Walk
Walking is one of the most practical ways to reduce stress. Cortisol is a stress hormone that when elevated, it causes anxiety levels to rise. A study from Research Gate found that walking decreases excess cortisol. It can also improve your mood and you may develop new ideas by going for walks.
Reduce Your Digital Overload
We have immediate access to the world through our devices but excess media consumption often causes stress. If this sounds like you, it may be time for a short digital detox. Visit your library and check out a few books in different genres and read them throughout the week. Place your phone in a different room before bed and use an alarm clock to wake up to avoid scrolling all night and early in the morning.
Set Stronger Boundaries
Saying yes to every request and invitation will cause you stress. You don’t have to overextend yourself and be on call whenever you’re needed. Sometimes you’ll need to say no to the things that are not a priority for you. If your sister wants you to babysit her kids for the third weekend in a row but you have other plans, politely tell her that you can’t because you’re doing other things. When you stand up for yourself and your priorities, you’re less stressed.
Create a Routine for the Week
Another way to reduce stress is to create a weekly routine. One idea is to use the time-blocking method to create your routine. Time blocking is when you dedicate certain blocks of time to specific tasks you need to do. Focus on the most urgent and most important tasks before you complete the less important and less urgent ones. Use a whiteboard calendar or a schedule printout to write your weekly tasks.
Start A New Hobby
Hobbies don’t always have to be monetized. Hobbies are great for relieving stress and think about your current interests and skills when deciding which hobbies to learn. If you love to dance, take dance lessons with a reputable local dance teacher. If you’re interested in starting a Youtube channel, record your first few videos and learn about the best ways to improve your channel.
Change Your Sleep Schedule
As much as you love to stay up at night to binge watch Youtube videos or Netflix shows, this isn’t a healthy way to deal with stress. Set a certain time each night you’ll go to bed and do non-screen activities to relax before sleeping such as meditating, reading a book, listening to soft music, and just laying quietly.
Use Your Paid Time Off
If your job stresses you out from time to time, then use your paid time off. Go on a day-long weekend road trip with your spouse or good friends. Visit some new restaurants in your area while the kids are at school during this time. Meet with your therapist if the past few weeks were rough for you. Take long naps after your breakfast or lunch if you can. Spend time with your parents, siblings, and extended family.
Exercise
Physical activity is excellent for reducing stress. Put on your favorite music playlist and have a dance party by yourself for a few years. Jump on the trampoline with the kids while dinner is cooking and before they do homework. Go jogging in your neighborhood in the morning before work. Have an active and fun night of lovemaking with your partner.
Delegate Tasks Around the Home
Household management shouldn’t be a solo effort. Meet with your spouse and kids to develop a plan to assist you with chores. Create a chore chart for each child that tells them the chores they need to complete and the days they should complete them. Tell your spouse the chores you’ll need help with during the week. This reduces your stress.
Organize Your Worskspace
When you have a cluttered workspace, your job will be stressful. Organize your workspace for a clearer mind and focus. Declutter your desk drawers and file cabinets, and eliminate anything you don’t want or need. Categorize and label your office items to find them easier. Dust your office furniture. Use vertical storage for books and binders if you have a small office.
Get a Plan for Your Finances
Another one of the most practical ways to reduce stress is to have a plan for your finances. Start by writing down all of your sources of income and how often you receive them. Then you’ll write down all of your fixed and variable expenses in your monthly budget. Cut out any unnecessary expenses such a as pricey subscriptions and dining out too frequently. Automate a portion of your check to your savings and investments accounts every pay period. This lays the right foundation to build a strong financial future on.
Create and maintain an emergency fund to decrease the stress that comes with financial emergencies. Purchase life insurance if you have dependents. Life insurance provides your loved ones with the funds to pay for your funeral and burial if you pass away.
Contact your creditors and tell them about your financial situation. Work out a payment plan that suits your budget and make timely payments going forward. You can also get a debt consolidation loan where you combine your loans into a new low-interest loan.
Prepare The Night Before
Make your mornings less stressful by preparing the night before. Iron all the kids’ school clothes the night before and pack their lunches. If your kids are teens, they can do this themselves. The kids can also take their baths the night before and comb and wrap their hair if they’re older. Tidy up around the house and wash the dishes before going to bed.
These practical ways to reduce stress will keep you sane during times when life gets chaotic so you can stay on track and maintain peace in all situations.
