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Declutter The Mind and Live a Stress-Free Life

By on April 11, 2023

By Barbara StClaire-Ostwald

Just like you, I have read many articles on how to live a stress-free life, it sounds so easy. If it was that easy, we would all be living a stress-free life all the time. Wouldn’t that be nice? But there are ways you can reduce your stress and be happier with your lifestyle and choices. You just need to want to make some changes and stick with them. It’s about building resilience.

To normalize things a little, a certain amount of stress is part of the human experience. It is natural, normal, and part of our physiology, our biological make-up. However, too much stress can trigger our bodies into ‘high alert’. This is where you might be feeling symptoms such as irritability and anger, anxiety, agitation, difficulty relaxing, and unable to sleep. Or, from the opposite end into lethargy, you might feel like just shutting down or feeling spacey, ungrounded, disconnected, and with-drawn, saying to your friends that you ‘feel fine’! When you start to notice these or other similar emotions, and sensations, it is time to take charge of your well-being.

Reducing stress symptoms won’t be the same for everyone. If you are feeling stressed, whether by your job or something that is more personal, the first step to feeling better is to identify the cause. Not taking control of your situation and doing nothing will not only make your problems worse but will increase your stress levels and could lead to serious health issues. Good stress management might include building resilience, taking control of your situation, having good social networks, and having a positive outlook. 

Here are some tips on ways to help you live a stress-free life. I can’t guarantee that they will all work for you because everyone is different. Just pick and choose the ones that will work best for you and try them out. And by the way, they are listed in no particular order!

1. Stop multi-tasking: one thing at a time is the simplest and the best way to start reducing stress. Pick one thing to work on. Remove distractions. Ask yourself “Do I really need to be in that meeting?” or “Why did I agree to that?” Start reducing the commitments in your life that aren’t beneficial to you. Learn to say no! It takes practice but you will soon see and feel the benefits.

2. Get moving! It doesn’t have to be something exhausting or punishing. Take a yoga class or go for a leisurely walk. If you like to run, join a running club at your local park. And if you have a dog, then have fun walking them, meeting and getting to know other owners in your area.

3. Time management: there is nothing worse than not having some sort of routine and if anything, Covid-19, being stuck at home, and working from home, has definitely been a great example. Set your alarm clock and get up early – mine is set to 7:00 am. Make sure you have breakfast! If you have appointments try to leave earlier and schedule more space between events.  

4. Stop overanalyzing situations which haven’t happened yet and may never happen! Thinking about worst-case scenarios because you think it will prepare you for failures or letdowns in your life is not going to benefit you, or bring you any form of joy and happiness in the long run.

5. Try to start living in the present moment. Being present involves being with your body inside and out with your feelings, emotions, and sensations, inside and out. Don’t be afraid to feel. The past is history and it is in the past. The future is unknown. Live in the present and enjoy what you have now.  

6. Focus and surround yourself with people who love you and make you feel happy. Who knows you inside out, flaws and all. Let go of others who make you feel inadequate, make you compromise all the time, and make you feel unhappy. Focus on what you have instead of what you don’t have! 

7. Social media and other people’s lives are not something you should be comparing yourself to. You are a unique individual so remember that your life is your life, not someone else’s life. So live your life, make mistakes, and go through stuff that might be messed up – it’s okay! It’s normal and natural and part of being human.

8. When we release stress, our lives start to slow down, and we begin to feel more contented and peaceful inside. It often feels as if a great weight has been lifted from our shoulders and we have been given a new lease on life. Try some of these tips and start your journey to living a stress-free life.

 

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Stress-Free Life Simply Woman Magazine

More about Barbara:

Barbara StClaire-Ostwald, MA,BSc (Hons), is a Master Executive Coach & Supervisor, Interculturalist and expert in Trauma Sensitive Coaching and Neuroscience. She works with many individuals and groups around the world supporting them through social pressures, decision making, discovering how to let go of the past and understanding their body-mind connection to live full and transformative lives through embodied self-awareness. For more information visit https://barbarastc.com

 

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