How Can I Lessen My Stress Levels?

Do you know what is a source of stress in your life?

Are you always in a hurry and do you tend to leave everything for the last minute?

Do you prioritize your work commitments over your personal life?

Would you say that your life is extremely complicated?

First and most important thing you have to do is to determine what are the stressors in your life. Take a few minutes to think about what stresses you out. What people, things or activities cause stress in your life? How can you make them less stressful? It might not happen overnight, but it is important for you to know exactly what is affecting your mental health.

If you have a tendency to put everything off and a “I’ll deal with it later” attitude, the only thing you will be dealing with later is stress. When we are running late, we have to hurry to get ready, usually we end up in traffic and with a lot of stuff to deal with in very little time. Avoid procrastination at all costs. Try to wake up earlier so that you have plenty of time before you have to get out, use a digital or paper planner in order to simply and organize your day, and reduce your stress levels by actually enjoying and being present in the moment.

If you suspect that your work is your biggest stressor, chances are you are right. Work is important, indeed, but even if you love what you do, you should take care of your mental and physical health too. Take mini-breaks during your working hours. Spend some time in nature, talk to someone you like, do some breathing exercises. Long-term speaking, this mini-breaks will make you more efficient and productive. Also, your personal life should be as important as your professional one, since this is the place we tend to take refugee and recharge.

When attempting to do everything perfectly and when constantly trying to please everyone around us, we often end up drained of energy, anxious, frustrated, and stressed out. The best advice to start lessen your stress levels is to relax more, eat healthier, simplify your to do list, accept life as it is, and practice gratitude. Take one day at a time.

If you already know what your stressors are but can’t manage them, it is always useful to talk to someone and ask for advice. Other people’s insights might help you decide what the next step should be. Sometimes all we need is to learn to slow down. By taking things slow, enjoying our meals and just by learning to be present, our life quality can be improved.