I was listening to a podcast the other day and the host said, “There is nothing magical about January 1st.” It’s funny because so often of the time we hear that a new year is coming and we think that everything will automatically refresh and renew for us. If you think this way, let me give you the lowdown: it doesn’t work that way.
A specific day does not refresh your life and make things happen (or not happen) for you – you are the only person that can make change happen in your life, so if you are needing to reduce your stress, don’t wait until the new year, or the end of the month. Start today!
Let’s talk about why you would want to reduce your stress. The brain undergoes chemical and physical changes when you become stressed and it affects its overall functioning, which is obviously not a great thing if you are working, with grandchildren, or even driving a car each day. During periods of high stress, certain chemicals within the brain, including the neurotransmitters dopamine, epinephrine and norepinephrine begin to rise, causing larger amounts of these and other “fight-or-flight” hormones such as adrenalin to be released by the adrenal glands. The release of these chemicals contributes to certain physiological effects, including rapid heart rate, higher blood pressure, and a weakened immune system. If left unmanaged over time, chronic stress can lead to the development of other serious problems, such as stomach ulcers, stroke, asthma, and heart disease.
It doesn’t sound good, does it? That is just one of many reasons why you should reduce and manage your stress each and everyday. Now, let’s talk about simple ways to reduce your stress in 2019:
Take A Day Off
The one thing that the new year does change is that in traditional jobs, your vacation days probably reset. Take advantage of that and use them all up this year! Schedule days for yourself, schedule dream trips, and make sure you have enough time to relax during this upcoming year. If you are not a travel lover, make sure you at least schedule 1-2 days a month where you can take off, catch up on sleep, or pamper yourself with a spa day, a day with grandchildren, or a day just to hang out by yourself.
Pinpoint Your Stressors
Pinpointing what stresses you out is extremely important in your journey of reducing stress. You have to know what causes stress in order to eliminate it from your life, so I recommend keeping a list of each and every time you got frustrated, flustered, or stressed out. Each week, go back through that list and figure out why you were stressed and what you can do to remove that from your life. This may sound easy, but your stressors are something that is a huge part of your life, it can be hard to remove them completely from your life. Pinpointing and then eliminating your stress will do wonders for your emotional and physical health!
Hire Out Home Tasks
Home tasks such as yard work, cleaning, and even grocery shopping can seem very daunting, and if these things are causing you stress, hire a professional to take care of them for you! For example, tree and lawn care is pretty stressful to me, probably because I do not know much about it, so I hired local NJ Company, Frontier Tree & Turf to help me out.
Frontier Tree & Turf is and has been a leader in the tree service industry for over 30 years. Based out of Middletown, New Jersey, they are committed to tree and lawn services, in order to make your yard thrive all year. They say, “Frontier Tree & Turf places an emphasis on proper tree care and preservation. Monmouth County towns such as Rumson, Fair Haven, and Little Silver are home to many beautiful specimen trees. We have the knowledge and expertise to properly improve and maintain your tree’s health for the long term. Proper pruning techniques, fertilization, and insect & disease management all work together to ensure that your trees are safe and healthy.” Frontier Tree & Turf are New Jersey Certified Tree Experts and have the knowledge and expertise to safely and effectively care for all of your tree, shrub and lawn needs. I highly recommend hiring professionals like Frontier Tree & Turf to come and check out your lawn and tree needs now and in the future, as well.
Create More Time For You
Creating more time for yourself in 2019 is a great way to reduce stress. WebMD says, “A few minutes of practice per day can help ease anxiety. “Research suggests that daily meditation may alter the brain’s neural pathways, making you more resilient to stress,” says psychologist Robbie Maller Hartman, PhD, a Chicago health and wellness coach. It’s simple. Sit up straight with both feet on the floor. Close your eyes. Focus your attention on reciting — out loud or silently — a positive mantra such as “I feel at peace” or “I love myself.” Place one hand on your belly to sync the mantra with your breaths. Let any distracting thoughts float by like clouds.”
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Mindanaoan is a multi-awarded blogger, content creator, seasoned social media strategist and publicist with undeniably successful track record. 2012 International Visitor Leadership Program (for global leaders) alumnus and O visa grantee (for people with extraordinary skills and who have risen to the top of their field). Avid traveler and a proud relief operations volunteer. Regular resource person for social media, blogging and content creation. Available for work and travel – [email protected]
