Four Simple Steps to Eliminate Stress

Experiencing an off day is not uncommon. Despite your best efforts to wake up on the right side of the bed, to start off on the right foot and any other common analogies for having a good day, sometimes you just can’t help but spend your day feeling stressed. Between careers, kids, spouses, friends, finances, life in general and any combination of the aforementioned, it is a miracle that “stressed” isn’t an option in the filing status column on your income tax forms. While stress cannot be avoided, it can be reduced by making a few simple lifestyle changes.

Forgive and Forget

It is easy to be angry with someone. When a person does something to anger or offend you, your feelings toward them can negatively impact your stress levels. Instead of holding onto your feelings of animosity, forgive a person who has treated you poorly. This doesn’t mean you have to become best buds with this person, it just means that you have decided that their negative actions are no longer something you want to carry as a burden to you.

Take in the View

By surrounding yourself with lovely, natural views you can alleviate your stress in no time. Place your furniture so that you always have a view out the window, go outside and drink your morning coffee on your front porch or take a walk in your favorite neighborhood and enjoy the view. Natural settings have a way of making your mind relax, causing your stress levels to dissipate.

Let it All Out

Research shows that letting it all out is a great way to relieve stress. The next time you feel particularly stressed out take a (very) private moment to let it all out. Lock yourself in your bathroom or in your car and hold nothing back. Scream, yell, cry or pretend that the person you are angry at is standing right there and say exactly what’s on your mind. Even though no one will hear you and your problems won’t be solved, you will feel infinitely better simply by letting it all out.

Stop Thinking

While it is beneficial to think about your problems and work out different solutions in your mind, you can’t do it 24/7. When you are not busy your mind continues to focus on the stress in your life, which means you aren’t relaxing. Time to relax and unwind is imperative to relieving stress, and you need to get up, get out and get busy. Participating in an activity that forces you to pay attention to someone or something else will keep your mind busy and allow your body to relax. Sign up for a cooking class, go to a wine tasting or just get together with your girlfriends for a few hours without the kids or your spouse.

Stress isn’t always bad. It often acts as a motivator to keep you on your toes and working hard to improve your life. However, too much stress can have negative effects on your health and can cause you to feel depressed. By eliminating useless stress you are giving yourself the luxury of relaxing and enjoying your life.