How to Live Stress-Free
By Genevieve Cunningham
Living stress-free is the goal of many. Stress can damage our health significantly, whether that be mentally, emotionally, physically, or all three. The truth is that almost no matter how hard you try, you’re unlikely to completely eliminate stress from your life. The goal then becomes not how to eliminate it completely, but rather how to manage it and live with it comfortably. To get a handle on your stress and feel better about stressful situations, take a look at these tips.
Find Some Balance
Stress might seem like it comes from a ton of external sources, but it actually comes from the panic and confusion that you feel over certain situations. The bills aren’t making you stressed. Your worry and fretting over how to pay those bills is what is making you stressed. In order to calm your inner voice and find a little balance, try meditation or yoga. These practices teach deep breathing, being still, remaining calm, and serious patience. In the long run, these tips can help you apply these skills to other areas of your life and, therefore, feel less stressed on a daily basis.
Think of the Worst Case Scenario
This might seem as though it will make you more stressed, but it’s the opposite. If you can think of the absolute worst case scenario, and you can imagine ways to make it through that, then everything else doesn’t seem quite as bad. Most of the time, the worst case scenario doesn’t happen anyway, so you’ll already know going into a situation that you can handle it. Imagine the worst, deal with it quickly in your mind, and shove the thought away. Now deal with what’s actually in front of you.
Change Your Perspective
Everything in life is perspective. If you’re feeling stressed, change your approach. Worried about the bills? Be thankful that you have bills. In some places in the world, running water and cable and internet is not an option. It can also be beneficial to imagine your life without those things. Would it really be that bad to do without the TV for a while? You’d definitely live, and some people even find it more enjoyable in the long run. Changing your perspective takes a lot of work, but if you can alter yours into a more positive one, you can change your outlook on the world at large.
Stress is a part of life. It’s unlikely that you’ll be able to live without it completely. But, you can learn how to manage it and make it a lesser part of your life. Use these tips to get a handle on your stress, and therefore lead a healthier and happier life.