A constant stream of stimulation bombards our senses and sanity. Even our downtime often includes a digital device. While turning to our digital world might act as a distraction, it doesn’t give our senses a break. Add the bad habits and addictions some of us also have, and our bodies and minds really do stand up to a lot of stress on an average day.

Modern life requires us to be more proactive when it comes to de-stressing. Many of the things that stress us out are unavoidable, such as work. It may be a pain, but it’s less stressful than not having any money to pay the bills.

Taking the time to learn how to reduce the anxiety and stress our bodies and minds are subjected to can pay dividends, and is probably easier than you think. Most of us don’t need to change that much in our daily routines to increase our overall wellbeing and sense of peace. The rewards include better health, restful sleep, and a happier you.

Whether you want to radiate peace and serenity wherever you go, or just reduce your stress levels a bit, the following tips will help you achieve your goal.

Rest your senses

It’s very common for the average person to go through a day without ever enjoying a moment’s silence. Whether it’s your TV or washing machine in the background, or the hustle bustle of work, taking five or ten minutes to enjoy the silence can be beneficial.

It can be harder than you think to find a truly quiet space where you won’t be disturbed and maybe try meditating. It’s so rare for some of us that silence can feel a bit weird at first. Stop everything and embrace the nothing. Close your eyes. Let your mind wander.

Remove toxicity from your personal relationships

Examine your relationships. Are you a people pleaser that can’t say no? If there are people that create far more stress in your life than happiness, then you need to consider changing the dynamic of the relationship or ending it altogether. Removing a toxic influence from your life can be very beneficial for both your mental and physical health.

Break your bad habits

Breaking some of your bad habits, no matter how small, can be one of the most empowering things you do. Taking control of a single negative aspect of your routine or life transforms you from a passenger to the driver. It could involve a simple change to reduce your screen time or a more comprehensive approach to combatting an addiction.

While many bad habits or addictions can be tackled simply, people with more serious ones should seek professional help. Whether you’re quitting smoking, aiming for sober living, or simply trying to make fewer impulse purchases, there are people who can help.

De-clutter physically and mentally

Whether it’s a packed schedule you’re going to struggle to stick to, or a cluttered house, spending some time clearing the backlog can feel like a fresh start. Lots of us have a junk drawer… or cupboard… or garage. Clearing them out and binning all the junk can feel liberating.

A schedule can be a useful tool that helps you to stay organized. However, it can be easy to get into the habit of allotting time to tasks without leaving any spare time. Make sure you highlight a day or two, or even a designated hour during your day, where you never schedule anything in. This will allow you some me time. Whether you use it to catch up on something you haven’t had time to do, or simply enjoy your own company for a while, downtime is an important part of staying fresh and remaining sane.

Practice saying ‘No’

Saying no to some tasks or requests can be harder than you think. It requires practice to use this tool effectively. Most of us like to help others and don’t like to say no, whether it’s helping a colleague with a report or running a family member to the doctors, sometimes you just have take care of your own mental health.

Overcommitting yourself can leave you feeling tired and resentful. The best way to help those around us is by being at our best. Decide how much you can comfortably handle, and then don’t let yourself commit to anything that takes you beyond your comfort level.

Appreciate nature

So much of the world passes us by in a blur as we go about our busy days. Being a little more consciously aware of the beauty around us can change our mood. Whether it’s for five minutes during your lunch break, or hiking in a forest at the weekend, you are a living organism, you need nature. The more we are aware of nature the more at peace we feel.

Simply spending time in nature can have a meditative effect, and it often puts our own daily stresses into perspective. This was all going on for thousands of years before we were born, and it will be going on for a long time after we are gone.

Prepare your diet for convenience

Spending a long time cooking a delicious meal can be a great way to relax if you enjoy cooking. However, most of the time we can end up eating what is convenient because we are short on time, or simply throwing in the towel altogether and settling for a takeout.

Having a couple of go-to quick recipes that you enjoy eating can be a great way to improve the quality of your diet and your health. Experiment with quick and convenient dishes until you find a couple you like. Make sure you always have the ingredients in. You’ll spend far less on takeout and save some money in the process. If you want to reduce your steps even more, I have 4 weeks of done-for-you meal plans here. You can also improve your diet by switching out one of your daily drinks for a healthier option. If you drink five coffees a day, drink four instead and substitute one of them for a healthier option, whether plain water or a caffeine-free hot drink.

The more peace you have in your life, the happier and less stressed you will be!

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