Reducing Stress in Your Day-to-Day Life

Knowing how to reduce stress can help you feel better now and years into the future. There are hundreds of ways to reduce stress and improve your mental health, but we’ve chosen five of the most common methods to help you get started, including:

• Meditating
• Exercising
• Sleeping better
• Journaling
• Prioritizing

Take time to meditate.
It seems like we’re all waiting for life to slow down. Most of us have fallen into the trap of, “After this holiday, things will slow down,” or, “After the kids get back in school, things will slow down,” a time or two. Spoiler alert: it won’t. Sometimes the best thing for reducing stress is to make time to slow down. Take a few minutes every day to put down what you’re doing and relax. Rather than thinking about your to-do list, think about things that bring you joy. Whether that’s spending time lounging on the beach, reading a book by the fire, or simply clearing your mind of your surroundings, take time to transport your mind to somewhere else. This momentary escape can go a long way to reducing everyday stress.

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Get moving.
Not only do endorphins make you happy, but they also help to reduce stress. Endorphins are known as the “feel-good” chemicals naturally produced by your body. The more endorphins you make your body makes, the better you’ll feel because you’ll notice reduced stress, fewer aches and pains, and your overall sense of well-being will improve. Make time in your busy schedule to work out or go for a 20-minute walk a few times a week.

Get enough sleep.
As with most things in life, there’s an opposite side of the coin to endorphins and it’s called cortisol. When you’re stressed or don’t get enough sleep, your body produces cortisol in bunches, which can cause weight gain, high blood pressure, diabetes, and other conditions. While cortisol is meant to help your body cope with stress, it’s not good in large amounts. This hormone is only good for your small in small amounts, like in recovery after a workout and metabolizing sugar. The compounded effects of stress and not enough sleep will take a toll on your body, so try getting more sleep as a way to reduce stress.

It’s recommended that adults try to get between seven and nine hours of sleep each night. If you have a hard time getting enough sleep, try a few things to help you get to bed earlier like:

• Setting an alarm to put your phone away.
• Starting your nighttime routine earlier.
• Avoid caffeine late in the day.
• Exercise during the day.

Try journaling.
Journaling is a great way to reduce stress because it can help you see how different parts of your life affect your stress level day to day. When you write in your journal, take time to think about how you felt throughout the day. What helped you relax? Was there something in particular that triggered stress? Over time, you’ll gain a better understanding of why you’re stressed and find ways to consistently manage your stress levels. Your journal is a great place to unload negativity by venting your frustrations on paper while also promoting positive thinking and self-care.

Take a personal inventory.
There are things we do every day that need prioritizing. Whether it’s cleaning the house, exercising, taking a much-needed afternoon nap, or any other part of our busy day, we take inventory of these things and order them from most important to least important. You can reduce stress by taking time out of your day once or twice a week to make a list of the things you have going on in your life. Which of these things is the most important? What’s causing you the most stress? Should it be causing this much stress, or can you knock it down on the list? Is it something you can eliminate entirely? Take inventory of your personal life and find ways to reduce stress by shifting your priorities whenever possible.

Knowing how to reduce stress in your life is an important part of living a long and happy life. You’ll find that you’re mood and temperament change while enhancing your overall life. Follow these tips to start reducing stress and finding more joy around you.