With all the stigma around mental health, opening up and admitting you are struggling can seem like a struggle itself. Asking for help is always the answer, but it also helps to generally have less stress! Below is a list of ways to make your life that little less complicated.
You CAN Say No
If you are anything like me, you will find it hard to say no to people, whether it be family, friends, colleagues, clients, or strangers. Feeling as if you are disappointing somebody can leave a weight on your shoulder that wasn’t there before. However, you are not responsible for everybody else. No matter how much someone may guilt trip you…You are allowed to say no. Look after yourself first, if something will put you out, physically or mentally, refuse to do it. It is not selfish to take care of yourself.
It's All About You
Carrying on from the previous section, this bit is going to tell you how to better care for yourself! You could be a Mum, Dad, student…Anything, no matter what you do in life you will always have things to keep you busy. You must always make time for you. It could be a hobby or just going out with friends, whatever makes you happy make sure to do it regularly.
Without this little bit of self-care, you will become resentful and possibly even angry towards others. While we are on the subject of you, never compare yourself to others, this will lead to disappointment and unrealistic goals. You can’t spread positivity when you are not feeling positive yourself.
Be Thankful
This one is sometimes a hard one for people to do. When you are feeling overwhelmed and stressed the last thing you can think of is reasons to be happy and thankful. But the key here is to always find something that is good in your life, and feel thankful for that. You can do this for literally any situation:
- It is raining- At least we have water
- I missed my bus- I can get a little exercise
- I ripped my jumper- I can buy a new one that I really like
By doing this, you will train your mind to always see the positives at any time. You could also make a ‘thankful’ jar- write down several things you are thankful for and pop them in a jar, anytime you are feeling stressed, pull one out and read it.
There is always something to be thankful for.
Give to Charity
It is a proven fact that giving to others releases endorphins in our brains which in turn makes us happier. It is known as the ‘helper’s high’. You can do this in two ways:
- Declutter (which by the way is also good for the mind, body and soul) and give to those in need.
- Buy and give food or toiletries to the homeless. You can also give your time and physical help.
Sometimes even a passing smile or wave is all that is needed to brighten someone’s day. Whichever way you decide to give it…always give.
Meditate
Meditation is a great way to relax, so many people nowadays meditate at the beginning or end of each day. Some of the benefits to meditating are:
- Decreases anxiety
- Increases attention span
- Reduces stress
- Enhances self-awareness
- Reduces memory loss
- Helps control pain
- Improves quality of sleep
With all these benefits, why wouldn’t you want to take it up?! One of the other great things about meditating is it is accessible anywhere, all you need is a little space and time!
We hope you enjoyed the article and got a few ideas that you can try to reduce the stress in your life!
For more great articles, check out the rest of the site.
