Is stress getting the best of you? If you have trouble relaxing and suffer from low energy, feelings of overwhelm, headaches, frequent colds, stomach indigestion or any of these other symptoms, there’s a good chance that it’s time to take something off your plate. No, it’s not impossible. More balance in your life may be only a shift in perspective away. In honor of Stress Awareness Month, here are a few simple and mindful ways to help you stress less.
- Keep it in Perspective. If you’re driven to fulfill goals and dreams, there’s always going to be more to do than you have time for. Rather than feeling guilty about areas of your life that you’re “neglecting,” zoom out to see the big picture. You don’t need to cross and every item of your to-do list today. Realizing how you’re making progress by comparing where you are today to where you were at the same time last year can go a long way towards assuaging fears and boosting confidence.
- Put an End to Perfectionism. Perfectionism is often a root cause of feeling stressed. Not only is getting it 100 percent perfect often a time suck, likely whoever you’re trying to please won’t know the difference between “perfect” and 80 percent “perfect.” Set a timer for how long you’d ideally like to take on each task and stick to it – even if it hurts. You’ll get more done in the long run and begin to loosen the grip perfectionism has on you.
- Get your ZZZ’s. If the promise of a cup of coffee is the only way to drag yourself out of bed in the morning, there’s a good chance you’re not getting enough sleep. Even just one hour less than what your body needs can lead to a host of symptoms among them irritability, difficulty processing information and, you guessed it, stress. Make sure you’re getting between 7 to 9 hours every day. Consider a sleep-monitoring app like Sleep Cycle to help you wake up less groggy.
- Put it in park. Being behind the wheel for a good portion of your day is a huge contributor of stress. Road rage, anyone? If you have a long commute, look for alternative ways to get to the office like carpooling or taking public transit, which allow you to relax and enjoy the company of others rather than navigating rush hour. If your office is not far from home, try biking or walking to work to receive a bunch of benefits including just feeling happier.
- Just Say No. Saying no can be challenging – especially for women. Before making a commitment, ask yourself, is this something I really want to do? Do I feel obligated, nervous about the repercussions of saying no or afraid of hurting someone’s feelings? No longer being the “yes girl” doesn’t have to mean losing your job or harming significant relationships. Here are 10 guilt-free ways to handle tricky situations. Remember, saying no often means saying yes to you.
