People surround themselves with things and people to make up for what’s missing in their lives. Sometimes there is so much it clutters your mind and causes unnecessary stress. Yet, when you simplify and declutter your life, you will find it to be more meaningful and much more fulfilling.
Sources of stress.
Work, family, school, current events. There are so many sources of stress that are out of our control, it’s time to control what you can.
- What is causing you stress? Identify the stressor(s) and work on a plan to eliminate or reduce them. Start with the “small” stuff that can be easily resolved.
- Physical clutter. Walk through each room in your home, what makes you cringe or gives you stress? Remove these items.
- Toxic people. Do the same with people in your life and on social media. Remove or block the people who being you stress or are always negative.
- Do what you have put off. Action will help relieve the tension.
- Stop trying to control everything. Do what you can, give up what you can’t, and move on.
Is the stressor worth your energy and attention? Do you thrive on the chaos in your life? Do you feel that it is giving you a “purpose”?
If you cannot completely remove stressors, develop a method to deal with them positively. Your reaction to the stressor should bring you peace, not a feeling of anxiety.
Listed below are just some of the physical effects of stress.
Low energy. Fatigue. Lack of motivation or focus.
Headaches. Aches, pains, and tense muscles. Pain of any kind.
Digestive problems. Upset stomach, diarrhea, constipation, and nausea.
Depression. Social withdrawal.
Anxiety. Feeling of overwhelm. Chest tightness and rapid heartbeat.
Sleep problems. Sleeping too much. Insomnia.
Frequent colds and infections. Autoimmune diseases.
Loss of sexual desire and/or ability.
Drug or alcohol misuse or overuse.
Irritability or anger. Emotional outburst.
Exercising less often or excessively.
Here are some simple stress reduction suggestions.
Laughter. Laughing reduces the stress response. It helps relax muscles and increase oxygen intake. Watch a funny movie or tv show. Catch up with an old friend on the phone, talk about the silly things that happened in your past.
Music. Helps promote healing and improve emotional wellbeing. Studies have found that music improves the immune system and reduces stress and anxiety levels. Turn on your favorite musical artist and rock out for a little while. Sit in your car and listen to a cd. Turn on the radio while you cook dinner or fold laundry.
Outdoors. Walking in an area filled with greenery helps reduce thinking about being sad or stressed. Take that basket of unpaired socks outside and get the job done while soaking up the sunshine.
Pets. Petting or grooming your pets can help lower your blood pressure and increase levels of feel-good hormones. Take them for a walk and take advantage of the fresh air and wonderful sunshine.
Exercise. Any form of exercise can help reduce stress. Just a moderate amount of exertion tends to increase endorphin levels and boost your mood. Simply do jumping jacks in the kitchen or squats while dinner is in the oven.
Diet. Improving your diet will give you added energy to conquer the day. And it may help you have more focus on the tasks at hand and help you sleep better. Eliminate bad eating habits and reduce the use of stimulants, such as coffee and alcohol. Create a weekly menu, add one new, healthier meal each week. Meal planning can help you stick to a shopping list while saving money, which may be a stressor in your life at the moment.
Sex. A study from Arizona State University found that women who engage in physical affection or sexual behavior with a partner reported feeling less stress and fewer negative moods the following day.
Take a time out or take a day off. Treat yourself like it’s your birthday. Do something special for yourself at least once a week. It can be something as small as taking a long bath, painting your nails, or as extravagant as having a fancy dinner. Put yourself first, it’s okay to be selfish! Take care of yourself before taking care of others.
Pick up a hobby. Painting, yarn crafts, doodling, journaling. The list is endless, and a new hobby doesn’t necessarily have to cost a ton of money. Go to the dollar store for yarn, coloring books, writing tablets, painting supplies, etc.
Become more mindful through meditation. Use waiting or downtime as the time to meditate instead of using your phone to catch up on other people’s lives on the internet.
Ask for help. Have someone take your kids, ask your neighbor to quiet down their dog, whatever it is. It’s okay to ask for help. Ask with clarity, be specific, show gratitude and you shall receive. Remember, people cannot read your mind, you need to speak up!
- Start journaling your stressors, actions to reduce, or your daily thoughts.
- Don’t put off what is causing you stress. Do it and move on. Confront the situation.
- Be responsible and accountable for your actions.
- Eliminate the fear of the unknown by taking the leap.
- Visit with friends or family.
- Be reasonable with your expectations.
Once you start taking care of yourself, things will seem to take care of themselves.