#1 New Year Resolution – Reduce Stress!
Have you made your New Year’s resolutions yet? Or, are you still basking in the holiday glow and putting it off until you’re ready to be serious about tackling the year ahead? Either way, we recommend that you top your list with this perennial goal: reduce stress!
Of course, we don’t want to add to your stress by making you consider New Year’s resolutions and how to make them happen. So we’ll list a few simple, doable ways to make reducing stress well, less stressful.
Each one of these steps have been time and science-tested, and you can pick any or all.
Exercise
No surprise here. You already knew that exercise would be on this list. After all, it is one of the top recommended methods of stress relief, according to medical experts.
You’ve heard about the benefits of exercise on your physical well-being, but did you know that exercise helps your mental functioning, too? Regular exercise can help you sleep better, meaning you can spend your hours being more alert and productive instead of nodding off during the day and feeling too tired in the evenings.
Find an activity you enjoy, and if at all possible, pick one that you can do anywhere, anytime convenient. Running is a widespread favorite, but it is more important that you pick something that you’ll actually do, rather than what others like to do!
Journal
Stress is unavoidable. Sometimes stress is good, for example, the stress of competing in a sport. And even emotional stress can ultimately strengthen you – as long as it is not chronic and you can manage it well.
Talking out your feelings to a trusted friend, family member, or therapist is helpful, but writing a journal noting your daily peeves and irritations, as well as the bigger hurts, makes a difference too. It reduces the sting (and sometimes makes you see it is not such a big deal after all) and it helps you process your feelings. Again, it’s a proven way to reduce stress that anyone can do without too much investment!
Music
Many people listen to music while they work or workout or are waiting for something. And of course, they do it to kill time while commuting somewhere. There’s no doubt that different types of music have specific effects on our minds and bodies – which is why most hard-charging athletes listen to music with fast beats to get revved up for games.
When you’re feeling stressed out , try turning on some slower tunes. They’ll help relax your muscles and put you at ease, allowing your body to take a break from high-pressure state and calm down. It may be particularly helpful when you need to relax enough to fall asleep.
Stress is universal and affects everyone, from little kids to elders, to varying degrees. But learning how to manage and tamp down the pressure helps you enjoy life at school, college, work or anywhere else. We hope these simple tips get you going on taking care of yourself and feeling better on the road ahead.
And one final tip, remember to breathe!