Tips to Reducing the Everyday Stress in Your Life

Tips to Reducing the Everyday Stress in Your Life

Sunday, June 27, 2021

 

While life occasionally throws some significant curveballs, it’s often not the big stressors that rob you of happiness and productivity each day. Any added stress will have you blowing up or spinning out of control. Trust me I have been there (and am currently there). It’s the little annoyances and stressors that never seem to let up. We get used to these minor inconveniences and frustrations, but that does not mean they aren’t having a big impact on your life.

Sometimes it is not even clear that we are stressed. We go through the day just feeling wound up and uptight for no reason. It’s not until you remove these stressors from your life that you can realize how much stress they were causing.

 

Reducing everyday stressors can be a big relief!

Try these strategies to reduce your stress level:

1. Identify the things that stress you. Sit down and make a list of every little thing that creates any stress in your life on a regular basis.
   

●      Reflect in the moment or at the end of the day what stressed you that day.

                                          i.         Pro tip: If you are not sure what is stressing you, try to keep track of your stress in the workbook/notebook every day for a week and see what patterns emerge. 

●      Look at every area of your life, sometimes stress from one area of our life bleeds over into another.

2. Start at home. Identify everything in and around your home that you find bothersome.
   

●      It might be the hole in your backyard fence or the ugly painting in the hallway.

●      Maybe your car is hard to start in the morning.

●      Is the area your kids play in always a mess?

●      Is there a stain on the ceiling from the last hard rainstorm?

●      Make a list of these stress-inducing items and begin fixing them according to urgency.

                                          i.         Pro tip: Teach children how to put away their own things to reduce your load and teach responsibility. If you have young children (5 and under) or those who need more help use pictures to show where things go.

3. Take a look at work. Work is often a source of stress. What stresses you out at work? Who stresses you out at work? What are the tasks that cause you the greatest amount of stress? You spend a lot of time at work each day. A small improvement here could have a big impact.
   

●      Have you set boundaries at work?

●      Are you taking on more than you should?

                                          i.         Pro tip: Just because you can do it does not mean you should. Ask yourself “is this going to set me behind?” Before taking on an extra tasks.

●      Do you need to find a new position in the company? Would you like to find a new company altogether?

4. Consider the people in your life. Look at the people outside of work. Do you have a friend or family member that stresses you out? Take a hard look at your relationships and think about what you can do to enhance the challenging areas.

●      Are you lacking a support system?

●      Are people around you toxic?

                                          i.         Pro tip: Relationships are hard, but the time spent in one relationship and blood ties are not good reasons to be mistreated. Find a tribe that supports you.

5. Financial pressure. Financial struggles are a common stressor. They might even be the most common stressor. Regardless of your financial situation, if you’re feeling stressed, the solution is generally to either make more money or to spend less.
   

●      What are some expenses you can eliminate or reduce?

●      What are a few ways you can boost your income?

6. Sleep well and exercise. Exercise and sufficient sleep can greatly increase your resistance to stress. Notice how a small child’s ability to deal with stress is altered by being tired. It’s no different for adults.
   

●      Get your sleep and exercise regularly. You’ll feel less stress and be in a better position to deal with stress when it occurs.

                                          i.         Pro tip: Have a nightly routine to aid with sleeping.

Everyday stressors never let up. They continue to take a toll day after day until you give yourself some relief. We tend to tolerate too much in our lives and consequently experience more stress. I am just as guilty of this but by examining my stress in every area of my life I can see what changes need to take place. I have created this free tool to help you do the same.

 

What area of your life could you cut stress down on?

 

Remember, you have the control, power, and strength to heal from within.

By Shakirah