Read these 12 suggestions on how to  Lead a Stress Free Life

Today, we live in an era where there’s so much going around us amidst a fast-paced society that it is difficult to not be stressed out. On one hand where we have finances, families, friends, rent, taxes and so many such factors. On the other hand, we are left with very little or almost no control over these factors and situations. Whenever possible, we need to reduce our stress and take on some healthy habits to help in making life go as efficiently as possible. While an idyllic life on the beach without any worries at all may seem to evade many of us, it doesn’t mean that we cannot have a stress-free life. Interested to see how this can be accomplished without going out of your way? Then read on to know about the top secrets to leading a stress-free life.

1. Create a Systematic Routine

The moment you establish a routine, even the problematic situations become a routine. When we diverge from our daily routines, we tend to bump into a few roadblocks on the way. Whether you defy mental, physical, or dietary challenges, having a systematic routine can help structure the effort in keeping yourself healthy and sane. Irrespective of what is happening in your life, it is important to stick to a routine. This begins with inculcating the habit of sleeping early and waking up on time, dressing up, and stepping out of the house each day. For this, hand-over a plan to yourself or schedule one.

2. Indulge in “ME” time Everyday

Stress is a crucial issue as we age. The more responsibility we take on as we get older, the less time we’re left with, for ourselves. After all, time is the most valuable commodity anyone possesses 

Knowing the art of de-stressing is very important. If you’re already at high-stress levels to start with, it can have a greater toll on your health and managing stressful situations can become much more difficult. Out of all of this, if you can manage some “ME” time on a regular basis, your overall stress levels will eventually lower down. Ensuring that you have great coping mechanisms to handle stressors is crucial to our overall well being as we age.

3. Prepare a Checklist

Making checklists will help you take things one at a time without over-burdening yourself mentally. When we prepare mental checklists, we tend to look at things we have to do with a broader perspective instead of covering one task at a time. Also, successfully crossing something off our checklist gives a sense of pride and accomplishment which acts as a major motivational factor to handle the next task. This helps in building positive momentum.

4. Get MOVING, each day!

Even if you are not a huge fan of working out every day, there are many other activities that you could do and are fun such as cycling, taking a stroll at the park, bike riding, etc. Endorphins are authentic stress and pain relievers. Exercising regularly not just contributes to endurance, but also to living a worthy life. Besides, physical exercises help in decreasing the risk of major health complications, including diabetes, heart disease, and cerebral decline. To begin with, try sparing 15-30 minutes 3-4 times a week, and eventually, build from there.

5. Meditate

A lot of doctors across the globe endorse meditation as a way to get rid of stress. Meditation contributes in feeling alert and refreshed, thereby reducing stress levels, and anxiety. When we are exposed to unexpected stress or threat, we tend to retaliate with a typical “flight or fight” response. This, in other words, is also called an “adrenaline rush” since the hormones epinephrine and norepinephrine gets released from the adrenal glands, causing an upsurge in blood pressure levels, faster breathing, and increased pulse rate. And hence, to reduce the emotional and physical consequences of stress, meditative or other relaxation techniques can help with consistent practice.

6. Work on Developing New Habits

How are you managing stress? By smoking cigarettes, binging onto a bag of chips, or yelling at your partner? None of these habits are productive, nor are they helping you.  We need to work on developing healthy coping techniques such as jogging, meditation, yoga, or anything that gets us through problems. If you’ve ever thought about this, the so-called happy hours at the restaurants make for a “not-so-happy” future down the line.  If a peg or two and cigarettes are your stress relievers, it’s time that you reconsider your choices. It’s a myth that you’ll feel anxious or go through sleepless nights without consuming alcohol or smoking for days to go.

The thought of quitting the habit for good may appear daunting at first – especially because the withdrawal symptoms can trigger anxiety and irritability. But in that case, you’ll need to find an alternative, something like an E-cig that can help you in the quitting smoking regime. This form of smoking is way less harmful than tobacco-based smoking. But more importantly, e-cigarettes give you the option to cut down on the level of nicotine gradually to eventually lead a zero-nicotine lifestyle successfully. Some people also experience depression, fatigue, and insomnia, but recognizing your withdrawal symptoms and ensuring that you have your friends and family members around can help you in overlooking your temporary irritability.

7. Fuel Up with a Rich Diet

You do not have to necessarily consume chicken for lunch and a fruit for breakfast, but it is suggested that you fit a robust dose of nutrients at every meal. This begins with focusing on your protein intake since that plays a crucial role in keeping your muscles strong as you get older. Add antioxidant-rich food items to your meals to help ward off and prevent diseases. How you eat is equally important as what you eat. A vast majority of people indulge in consuming junk food or overeat due to stress. Pay more attention to your food than your cellphone, television, or laptop to avoid indigestion.

8. Break Up with Sleep Disruptors

When it’s time to shut your body down, put down your cell phone and switch off the TV. As we talk about physical and mental health, sleep ranks at the number one position of the list of to-dos. Not exercising and poor eating habits can hinder sleep. Besides, good sleeping is also significant for reaching your flat-belly goals, which is critical because you want to live longer, right?

9. Eliminate Clutter

Decluttering begins with getting rid of those old jeans that you never wish to wear again, the relations that serve no purpose, and old destructive habits that do not help you in any way. One thing is amply clear – they all need to leave your life, pronto! Getting into the depth of doing work and creating space in ourselves and homes lets in positivity and possibility of things we didn’t notice when we were amidst the clutter.

10. Breathe Deeply

When you breathe deeply and take full breaths, and accept this as the way you breathe all the time, you can keep the stress and your reaction to stress outside the door.

Breathing wholly and deeply creates a sense of serenity by retrieving the part of nervous system that enables us to digest and rest well.

11. Keep yourself Hydrated

We often confuse thirst with hunger. By keeping ourselves hydrated, our mind stays alert and our metabolism is improved. If you find yourself running low on energy, grab a glass of water and ensure that you’re not hungry. Replace caffeine, sugary drinks, sparkling water, and sweetened soda with basic mineral water and notice the difference.

12. Practice Self-Care

Go get your nails done. Get a massage from your favorite spa. Take a bubble bath. Indulge in some movie time. The alternatives are unlimited, but the idea is to rejuvenate and relax. Remind yourself to watch a movie every once in a while, go for a massage every once a month to relax and to take care of yourself. The idea of pushing yourself to do things you love is necessary, but often gets ignored due to time or financial constraints.

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While most of us think that contentment is a stroke of luck, it’s not true – it is merely the output of personal effort. You have to insist upon it, strive for it, look for it, and fight for it. You need to participate persistently if you wish to have a stress-free life. Live longer and be happy with your life.

Author Bio:

Being a senior business associate, Peter Davidson strives to help different brands and startups to make effective business decisions and plan effective business strategies. With years of rich domain expertise, he loves to share his views on the latest technologies and applications through his well-researched content pieces.

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