6 Actions to Help You Live a Stress-Free Life

You deserve to live a life as stress-free as possible. So take action against the worries, anxieties, and everyday pressures that put you under strain. Resolve to live a life will less tension. You can’t control everything that comes your way, but you can control how you react to the things that happen.

Thoughts lead to feelings (emotional response) which lead to a physical reaction to the body (stress, illness, etc.). So if you can change your thoughts, then you can alter how your body emotionally and physically reacts to the situation around you.

Below are six actions you can implement into your everyday life to help make it as stress-free as possible.

Be Positive

Positive affirmations are essential in the fight against stress. Put that negative talk to the side and start looking on the bright side. This is often called the “silver lining.” It’s a metaphor which means a negative situation may have positive aspects. It may be hard coming up with something positive, but even if it’s something like learning to avoid someone, to trust your gut, to do better next time — these are still lessons that can be helpful in the future.

Constantly bombarding your mind with negative thoughts will not serve you. It will not resolve the situation or make you feel better. In fact, you’ll probably feel worse. Replaying negative thoughts in your mind wastes your valuable time and effort on dealing with anxieties, thus heightening your stress.

Try writing down at least five things you like about yourself. Make sure to include all of the things you are grateful for. When you feel your negative thoughts, worries, and stresses rearing their ugly heads, then pull out that list. It’ll remind yourself how lucky you actually are.

Stay Hydrated

Staying hydrated is important on so many levels, not least when it comes to the fight against stress. When your body is in need of water, you will find it more difficult to alleviate stress because your brain will have to work ten times harder to release the hormones required to beat it. It is incredibly important that you drink water regularly in order to keep your mind and body even keel at all times. This is a simple way to work towards a stress-free life.

Take Control of Your Money

Many people across the globe suffer every day with the stress induced by financial worries. If you are experiencing this, rest assured you’re not alone. You can lessen how financial troubles affect your stress level by taking actions that make you feel empowered.

In order to take control of your finances and, subsequently, troubles that could potentially arise out of the mishandling of money, consider getting professional advice. No matter the route you decide to go down, whether that be the credit, debit, debt consolidation, or the personal loan route, professional guidance can prove invaluable which can help to minimize financial stress.

Take On Less at Work

Working harder or more often may result in getting more pay, but is that extra bit of cash really worth the stress placed upon you? Stress doesn’t always stay with the person who’s feeling it. Stress is contagious. It can emit from you and affect loved ones around you, thus negatively affecting personal relationships and family life.

If it’s your workload that is causing you stress, try taking on less. Maybe right now you go above and beyond but your boss doesn’t appreciate it. So perhaps putting less pressure on yourself to care so much can alleviate some stress. Or if you have an understanding manager, it may be time for a conversation to ask for a reduced workload. After all, if you’re a good worker, your boss won’t want to risk losing you.

But perhaps your manager makes your life miserable. Then it’ll be a question of whether or not you should stay at the job. Start updating your resume and posting it on job sites. It’ll help empower you. You’ll feel like you’re working towards improving your situation, and these actions will help to alleviate the “out-of-control” feeling which can lead to stress. At the end of the day, what’s best for you — and your health — is the most important.

Take Time to Breathe

A simple yet effective technique to implement for a stress-free life is breathing. By dedicating certain amounts of time to breathing in, holding your breath, and breathing out, you will provide your body with the oxygen it needs to truly relax.

The 4-7-7 breathing technique is an effective way to meditate and bring oxygen into your cells. This involves breathing in four seconds, holding your breath for seven, and then breathing out for seven. It may feel unnatural at first, but with practice, that’ll change, especially when you start feeling more relaxed.

Stretch Often

Stress will cause your body to feel tense and, ultimately, fatigued. To overcome this, try to stretch as often as possible. Doing so will improve your blood circulation and, thus, reinvigorate your body. It’ll also refocus your mind in its battle against stress.

Stretching doesn’t have to be hard. You can do something as simple as holding your hands over your head for 15 seconds while standing on your tiptoes.

To live a stress-free life as much as possible, try implementing the six tips above. Your mind and body will thank you.

Tips contributed by Maggie Hammond, a mom to two little people and many animals who is passionate about healthcare, the great outdoors , and world peace.