I am hoping this week’s article will help you to achieve less stress and more peace in your life. Last week we discussed time management, so I am not going to talk about it here. Keep in mind that being organized is another great way to reduce your stress level. Check out last week’s article on my blog.
Step 1: Priorities
It’s helpful to make a list of what is realty important to you, so that you can focus on only doing things that coincide with this list. This should be the areas in your life that are most important. They can be areas like; family, career, giving back, having fun, etc. Don’t forget to include taking care of yourself in there, whether it’s noted as taking care of yourself or having fun. You get the idea. Your list should include 5-10 areas.
Step 2: Say NO
Say no to anything that doesn’t fit with the list you made above. For example, if “having fun” is on your list and someone asks you to do something that doesn’t appeal to you, say no! Think about what language you will use to say no. Don’t over explain and keep it to one or two sentences. Usually people are just looking for an answer anyways. If you feel compelled to justify why you’re saying no, just count to 10 in your head after saying no. This will give the other person a chance to respond and will prevent you from over-explaining.
Step 3: Relax
This is probably the most important step! I can’t stress enough how important it is for you to take some time to “turn” your brain “off”. Choose something that is relaxing that you enjoy, like a massage, pedicure or even a hot bath. Schedule it in so that you have to, or if you are feeling overwhelmed with trying to fit in something new. Once a month is a great starting spot, once a week is delicious!
Step 4: Get Outside!
Getting outside is a wonderful way to reduce stress and to get some exercise at the same time. Something magical happens when we connect with nature and stop to smell the flowers. Again, schedule this in to your weekly routine if you are feeling overwhelmed with adding in something new. The benefits of adding this in far outweigh the addition of something else to your to do
list 🙂
Step 5: Meditate
A lot of people are scared to try this because they don’t really understand how to do it. Meditating boosts your immune system, helps to calm the mind and assists with creativity. If you are new to this, try a guided medication. You can buy a CD on-line or at your local bookstore. Pay attention to the length of it versus how much time you want to spend ding this. A great starting spot is 2-3 times a week at 10-15 mins each time. Choose what works for you and your schedule. Schedule it in if you need to!
Remember you deserve to live a life you love! Stressful situations will come up, but it’s all in how you handle them and the tools you have in your tool belt to make them easier…