It may seem impossible to avoid all the daily hassles of life, but some simple planning can help. Whether it’s minimizing your commute time by taking advantage of public transport or planning out meals before heading to the grocery store, these tips can make a huge difference in how easy or difficult your life feels.
Declutter Your Space
Clutter doesn’t just look messy; it can also make it difficult to focus, relax, and sleep. Moreover, cluttered spaces may raise your cortisol levels — the stress hormone – which leads to feelings of overwhelm and anxiety.
When you clean and declutter your space, you make way for the things that bring you happiness and help you be your best self. This can include physical items, such as books, DVDs, toys, and household goods; digital items, such as files, emails, apps, and social media accounts; or even memories that weigh on you emotionally.
To avoid getting overwhelmed, break down the decluttering process into super-simple steps and start with a single room or zone at a time. For instance, grab a bag for trash and another one for recyclables, then work your way around your home, tossing trash and bringing recyclables to their respective bins as you go. Then, take a few minutes to organize and put away everything that belongs elsewhere in your home. This can make a huge difference in your overall home atmosphere.
Stop Worrying
Worry is a natural human emotion, but it can become uncontrollable and interfere with your daily life. Chronic worrying can lead to anxiety, stress, high blood pressure, headaches, and other physical symptoms. In extreme cases, this can also lead to depression and other mental health issues.
It is important to address the root of your worries. You can do this by identifying the things that you can and cannot control. This can help reduce feelings of helplessness. For example, if you are worried about money, you can work on increasing your income, budgeting, or finding ways to save more.
Another way to decrease worry is by practicing mindfulness. This can be as simple as scanning your body for tension, focusing on breathing into that tightness, and then releasing it. You can also practice activities that engage your brain and stimulate positive emotions, such as taking a walk, playing with your kids or pets, or engaging in a hobby you enjoy. Practicing these techniques can reduce your chronic stress and help you break the worry habit.
Establish a Home Routine
Having a consistent home routine can help you feel more organized and efficient. It can also make it easier to stick with healthy habits and eliminate stress in your life.
Start by identifying your priorities. This will help you determine which areas of your home would benefit from a routine. Be sure to schedule in breaks to avoid getting burned out. It can take some trial and error to find a routine that works for you.
For example, waking up early and completing daily tasks before the rest of your family gets up can make it easier to get everything done. Doing this can also give you time to prepare meals for the day and reduce overall chaos.
You can use a calendar to create a daily schedule or simply write down what needs to be accomplished each day. Once you’ve established a home routine, it will become a habit and soon be effortless to maintain. You can even set “free” blocks of time in your schedule so you’re flexible if you have to take care of an unexpected event.
Practice Letting Things “Roll Off Your Back”
Practicing the art of letting little things that happen to you “roll off your back” can make life much more hassle-free. When you learn to forget small annoyances, you can save your energy and emotions for the important things in life.
This is a key concept in many types of therapy, such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). You must accept the things that are happening in your life and move forward anyway, even if they’re difficult.
To minimize your stress, try to change the things you can control. For example, if traffic is your biggest issue, try driving at different times of the day to avoid rush hour. Also, if you’re always losing your phone, invest in one of those gadgets that help you find it more easily. It’s a small price to pay for a less stressful life!
Get Organized
If your home, inbox, or office is chaotic, it’s not only hard to find things but can cause stress and anxiety. Learning how to get organized can make your life easier. Balancing a hectic schedule, meeting deadlines, and staying healthy is difficult, but when you’re organized, it becomes easier to meet your goals and feel less stressed.
Getting organized isn’t just about tidying up your space; it’s about making a habit of taking care of things regularly so you never have to worry about them again. This means creating a daily routine that includes everything from waking up and going to bed on time, setting aside 30 minutes to two hours for cleaning your house, preparing meals ahead of time, and making sure you have clean laundry and work clothes in your wardrobe at all times.
Start small and focus on one area at a time. For example, if your inbox is a mess, start by eliminating the junk and organizing important documents. Next, tackle your to-do list and prioritize. And don’t forget to set realistic expectations for yourself – getting organized won’t happen overnight, but it will become a habit with practice.