Living life stressed out is no way to live. Believe me, I’ve been there. In the last few years, I took a good hard look at my life and figured out what I needed to do to reduce my stress so I could have a healthier, happier life. I’m sharing my most important recommendations for stress management with you today so you can live a less stressful life too.
Exercise
I can’t recommend exercise enough. It is one of the most important things you can do to manage your stress. Studies have shown that exercise reduces fatigue and improves concentration. This is especially helpful when stress has depleted your energy and your ability to remain focused. Studies have also shown that when you regularly exercise it can lower levels of stress, elevate moods and improve sleep patterns. All of this will greatly increase your ability to manage stress better. I know that I am my best self after a great workout! I am more confident & positive, and my energy is through the roof.
Eat Healthier
When you eat better, you feel better. When you feel better, you manage better. Eating well-balanced meals will keep your energy levels up and your stress down. I admit that this is the area I struggle with the most. I love food. I especially love chocolate and ice cream. I haven’t always made the best food choices, but I’m working on it and I can tell you that when I don’t eat well, I feel it. Every time I choose a healthy snack with good fats and protein instead of a slice of red velvet cheesecake, I reap the rewards. (Let’s be real… I wanted the cheesecake tho) Since stress can tax your immune system, eating healthy will help you keep illnesses away as well. By combining fitness with nutrition, you have a winning combination.
Get Enough Sleep
We live in a sleep-deprived world. There are so many distractions that mess with our sleep patterns. We indulge in coping mechanisms that allow us to work our bodies past what they should (i.e. caffeine). When we don’t allow our bodies to get enough rest, we do not handle stress very well. Eventually, it will implode. I personally need at least six hours of sleep a night to function. You may need a little more than me or can function well on less. It’s important to know what your needs are. Sleep is a close second to exercise for me. I definitely know that if my sleep has been disrupted or lacking, I do not manage well. So I try my best to get the sleep I need so I can start my day out ahead instead of behind.
Have a Positive Attitude
Did you ever hear the phrase “attitude is everything”? I feel this one, mostly because of my sassiness (aka attitude.) Despite my sassiness, I’ve noticed when I stay in a positive mindset, I see things in a better way. Choosing to stay positive will help you to be less reactive and respond in better, more thoughtful ways. On my not-so-positive days, I find that I have a harder time navigating situations. It doesn’t help anyone, least of all myself. Keeping a positive attitude allows me to attract more positivity and make better choices throughout my day. It’s one of my best recommendations for stress management.
Time Management
When you manage your time effectively, it can minimize stress. It helps to keep the overwhelm down. When things are all over the place and you overlap responsibilities, stress naturally creeps in and builds up over time. By organizing your schedule and prioritizing your tasks, you can create a good foundation to lead a less stressful life. If you want extra help managing your time, be sure to check out my goal setting checklist.
Prioritize You
One of my favorite topics! Self-care is key. You must prioritize yourself. I recommend you take one hour of your day just for yourself and do anything you want to do. It doesn’t matter what you want to do, just do it. I think you deserve 5% of your day to be about just you. When we spend a little time on ourselves, we feel good about ourselves. This will give us the ability to be more confident and capable of managing whatever comes up during the day.
Ask for Help
We are not always able to handle it all on our own. That’s a fact and it is okay to embrace it. As much as I am a control freak, I also know that there are times I just need to ask for help. I will tell myself “I got this” and sometimes if I would just ask for help, I would get there faster and with much less struggle. Learn from me and ask for help when you need it. It makes others feel really good when they help you and you also feel great knowing you have supportive people in your corner. Win-Win.
When I find myself reacting instead of responding, I look to my daily habits and see what is out of balance. Did I sleep poorly last night? Has my diet been lacking? Am I in a negative mindset? I can usually figure it out pretty quickly and make the adjustments I need to make to get back on track.
I’d love to hear how my tips have helped you. Feel free to share in the comments.
If you found these recommendations for stress management helpful, you can check out my other stress management posts and related products right here on my website.
Live life on your terms!
Michelle