The problems brought by work life, issues in relationships, the increasing difficulties of life, people’s materialistic approach, the diminishing importance of our values, wars, income inequality, and many more… These are the challenges we face, along with personal problems and bills that need to be paid. One of the most effective tools you can equip yourself with to cope with all these is books. Don’t be misled by the term “books”; reading any type of text that interests you can make you a much happier person.
Contrary to popular belief, people who love reading are not detached from life or seeking escape in other worlds to forget their troubles. In fact, the reality is quite different. They have realized how much joy discovering new worlds brings and have understood that reading leads to great happiness in every sense.
Make a Plan
Another shortfall of people who struggle to cope with stress and cannot escape its negative impact is the lack of planning. It’s similar to the anxiety experienced by a student who enters an exam without studying or an employee who is unsure if their report is fully prepared. In both cases, we see the stress caused by a lack of planning, right? This is why you should never neglect to make a plan. For instance, when you get home in the evening, plan the tasks you need to accomplish the next day and greet the morning with a big “hello,” feeling at ease. By determining what needs to be done in advance, you can significantly reduce the stress you experience.
Analyze Each Day
If you want a less stressful and happier life, you need to understand the importance of analyzing each day. What do I mean by this? Let me explain with an example. Each evening, reflect on what caused you stress that day. Evaluate the goals you achieved, the failures you encountered, and the reasons behind those failures. Think about these and identify what you should avoid doing the next day. In short, review every hour you experienced during the day. Don’t be intimidated by the length of this explanation, as doing what I mentioned will take no more than 15 minutes of your time.
Learn to Relax
When you find yourself feeling stressed, take steps to relax. For instance, have a large cup of herbal tea or go outside for some fresh air. Open your book and continue reading from where you left off. Watch some fun videos or ask a close friend to give you a massage. Go home in the evening and take a long bath. Play with your child or take your dog to the beach. Knit, talk to someone you love, put on makeup, shave—do whatever makes you happy. Whatever you do, make sure it helps you relax.
Eat Healthily
Learn to avoid foods and drinks that can trigger stress. For instance, reduce the number of teas and coffees you consume. Drink more water, and opt for healthy vegetable and fruit juices and herbal teas. In the evenings, choose nutritious soups and salads instead of heavy meals. Pay particular attention to what you eat and drink at night. Ideally, it’s best not to eat or drink anything after 7 PM except for water; however, if you are very hungry, avoid eating something heavy like fried eggs. Instead, you can have some fruit or vegetables. A glass of warm milk with honey or a banana before bed can also be beneficial, as both bananas and milk have been proven to help relax the body and aid in sleep.
Try to Stay Away from Technology During the Day
You already spend the entire day on social media, following news from your country and around the world, living glued to your phone or computer. Therefore, when you get home in the evening, try to distance yourself from all these devices. Engage in other activities to clear your mind, and don’t even turn on your TV. Avoid the common mistake that many people fall into: going to bed with your phone. I’m talking about the big mistake of those who fall asleep while surfing the internet. Don’t do this. Never, ever take your phone to bed. This habit, even if you are unaware, plays a significant role in causing stress in your life.
For those immediately thinking of excuses like, “What about my alarm?”—the answer is simple: get an alarm clock. As a matter of fact, I should mention that one of the essential items in the homes of many successful people is an alarm clock. This way, you won’t be exposed to the radiation emitted by your phone placed right by your bedside all night long.
Exercise
A sound mind resides in a sound body. Exercise stands out as a self-therapy method recommended to many people suffering from depression. It is an activity that makes a person happy both mentally and physically. To cope with the greatest problem of our age, stress, one of the shields you should equip yourself with is exercise. This will be an excellent energy source for you, increase your productivity, help you calm down, and give you a much fitter appearance. Therefore, whether you enroll in a gym or work out within your means, make sure you exercise regularly.
Regulate Your Sleep
One of the biggest sources of stress, as we all know, is lack of sleep! Therefore, you should pay attention to your sleep schedule. Going to bed at 3 AM one night and at 10 PM the next night won’t compensate for the hours of sleep you missed. If your body doesn’t rest comfortably and adequately, the levels of certain hormones will change, naturally making you much more stressed. For these reasons, you should understand that a regular sleep pattern is critical for a less stressful and happier life. At this stage, you might try creating a sleep ritual for yourself.
For example, a warm shower, some relaxing room fragrance, soothing music, a few pages of a book, or a 5-10 minute massage from a loved one can help you fall asleep. If you practice the ritual you set every evening, you can be sure that your sleep schedule will adjust in no time. This way, you’ll have the chance to wake up with a more rested body and a smiling face.
Now that we’ve reached the end of our article, it’s time for you to spread your wings and take action to soar towards a stress-free life.
