3 Simple Steps For Reducing Your Daily Stress

There’s something seriously wrong with this stat! How can most people’s place of work be this stressful? Now, for the lucky (?) few of us who are entrepreneurs, we have more control over crafting our ideal environment. On the flip side, we have a hard time turning work ‘off’ at the end of the day. Individuals who work in the archaic office model are influenced by their colleagues. In other words; if your boss is having a shit day, unfortunately, you may start to have one too.

Studies have shown that stress affects the passer-by; the innocent human who walks into your stress-tornado. Their not totally sure the lasting effect this has on the brain, but it sure makes sense. Ever here your neighbours fighting so loud that it reverberates through the walls? I don’t know about you, but my heart feels instantly heavy and I get an immediate flight response. Put me in that situation for hours and I would be a ball of anger and irritation – essentially, I would unintentionally absorb their stress and make it my own.

I’ve come up with a short list of must-do’s to alleviate daily stress. Because, let’s get real – stress is compounding. If you don’t deal with it today, whatever is coming at you tomorrow will feel so much worse.

Are you a shallow breather? I know I am. For so many years, I’ve sucking my stomach in 24hrs a day (thanks womanly societal pressures!) that I’ve now created a horrible habit of shallow or chest breathing.  I actually have to remind myself to breathe properly throughout the day.

 

We often forget how important breathing actually is, because our bodies breathe on their own without much thought. But when’s the last time you actually paused to listen and count your breath? Try the 4-7-8 method to pull back some oxygen into your body, lower stress, improve sleep and become centered. Dr. Andrew Weil founded this simple technique that has been proven to ease the body and mind. Try it yourself! – follow the chart below:

True, unbridled joy. The kind you actually grin ear-to-ear about. Find the time to bring moments like this into your life every day. You may think this is difficult, but it’s not. You need to make time to find and add joy into your life – you just need to be clear on where it comes from.

 

Here’s my challenge for you: make a list of all the things that bring you joy. Go crazy, and write down as many as you can think of. Do it in a ‘brain-dumb’ format so your truly free-flowing with your thoughts. What’s a ‘Brain Dump’? Check out this great article about the technique: How To Brain Dump

Have you come down with a case of ‘busy-itis’? The way I see it, it comes in two forms: The ‘I’m too busy’ but your really not, and ‘I’m hella busy’ and you actually really are. The first is just a way to prove to others that your important, your work matters, and that you belong. The latter is a part of everyday life for two of my close family members. A whirlwind of too much work, not enough time, too many jobs, and only one of them. 

 

First, let’s tackle the “I’m too busy’, but your really not. By claiming to be busy, your essentially proving your worth or status. I happen to think the opposite; time for yourself equals success. If you’ve intentionally carved out the time to do the things you love, then you’ve figured out a way to structure your schedule to have time to enjoy life every day. Because it’s every day that enjoying life needs to occur – not just on weekends, nights or on vacation. 

 

Now onto the later – “I’m too busy” and you most definitely are. What are some ways in which the activities throughout the day consume you? Is it the time it takes, the brain-power or is it physical exertion? Make a list of each specific task you completed during a typical week and see what your working with. We all know that these things compound, and by the weeks end (if you have one) adding one more itty-bitty tasks can set you ablaze. 

Any which way to reduce the amount of workload you have in a week will greatly improve your mental wellbeing and reduce your stress. If you can’t figure this out on your own, hire someone who can help you get to the bottom of why your too busy in the first place. The obvious answer may not be what you think. It may even take a few counseling or coaching sessions, or difficult chats with your business partner or boss to really get to the bottom of your overwhelming feelings.