Feeling fried? Don’t worry. You can rediscover your sense of zen. Start by testing out any or all of the following simple paths to a less stressful life- Take The Stress Out:
1. Get Some Help
Instead of trying to do everything yourself, search for a local tax accountant online, engage a cleaner, hire a personal assistant – whatever it takes (within your budget) to remove you from the mountain of tiny tasks that need to be done. Hiring help is a quick and efficient way to remove stress from your life that is caused by things you need to do that take up your time and energy.
2. Find the Right Therapy
Therapy won’t actually remove stress from your life, but it will help you cope. It is also worth spending time in nature, which is known to decrease stress along with providing additional benefits. Exercise, eating well, sleeping well, and generally taking care of yourself are also incredibly therapeutic when it comes to dealing with stress. You’ll never remove 100% of it from your life (you’re not Yoda, after all), but you can make it more manageable with the right therapy.
3. Ditch The Drama
This may take the form of arguments between work colleagues or a friend being off and everyone else in your group discussing it. It may be hours spent arguing with strangers on social media. This kind of energy, even if you’re only observing it, is very stressful and turns life into a soap opera. It’s largely based on ego, and we are all guilty of getting involved in (or even causing) it from time to time. To reduce those stress levels, it’s time to take a step back and keep out of those boring bust-ups.
4. Change Career
Around a third of your life is spent at work, so if your job is stressful in a way that does not correlate with passion and satisfaction, then it’s time to make a change. Baby steps might mean taking fewer hours or less responsibility. It may even be time to have an adult gap year and go traveling. Maybe you’re ready for the personal challenge of being self-employed (although we can’t guarantee this won’t be more stressful). Whatever makes sense to you, do it – life is too short to spend your time feeling stressed and stagnant.
5. Stop Reading/ Watching The News
Studies have shown that consuming the news can connect with certain parts of the sympathetic nervous system, causing you to literally release stress hormones as a result of what you’re seeing or reading.
Consider that the average person may see the news on social media, on their TV in the morning, reported again in the evening, and perhaps even discussed by colleagues at lunch, and it’s easy to see how exposed to this stress-inducing medium we all are. If you can limit your exposure to what are commonly very dramatized, elevated versions of world events, you’ll save yourself so much stress.
6. Practise Mindfulness
Mindfulness can enable you to truly be in the moment, which is important as stress can often be related to feelings around the future and the past. You can learn more about it by exploring free meditation and mindfulness resources on YouTube. Find a teacher who resonates with you, and you’ll be treated to nutritious mind food that can help you find peace.
“The more you are focused on time – past and future – the more you miss the Now, the most precious thing there is.” – Eckhart Tolle
The tips above were designed to help you find more zen in your life, so you can swap feeling fried for beginning to thrive.
varsha