12 simple ways to beat stress

12 simple ways to beat stressIn our world anxiety and stress can be tough to avoid. They can also be a major detriment to healthy living. If you are like most people your life just keeps getting more hectic. Things keep getting piled on your plate and you have difficulties keeping them in balance. Your responsibilities increase and your times shrinks. How is it possible not to get a little stressed?Well the quick answer is that it’s not possible to avoid getting a least a little stressed. The good news is that it’s okay to be a little stressed and anxious about things, that’s human. But when you let the stress grow it can become very dangerous to your health. Try this, when you feel anxiety building try asking yourself, “Why am I worrying?” Here’s what you need to know, stress and anxiety are almost always fueled by lack of faith in yourself, a low level of self esteem and allowing outside pressures to build within you. If you are feeling stressed out, try some of the following 12 tips to help lift that weight from your shoulders:1. Breathe, really breathe – This is a simple solution that you can put to use anywhere. If you are feeling stressed, take a moment to sit back, relax, and take some nice long deep breaths. Bring those breaths way down to the pit of your stomach. This will put your body into a state of relaxation and the stress will disappear.2. Don’t just sit there, go exercise! – If you are feeling the effects of stress try doing some exercises. Sitting around and thinking about your stress won’t do you any good. Get up, get some exercise to improve your physiology and start feeling happier and healthier again.If you would like more information on how to exercise and get in shape I have a FREE Fitness e-course.3. Cut back on caffeine, energy drinks, chocolate and coffee – Many of us have so much to do that we reach for coffee and other energy drinks to give us that little burst of energy to get us though. The problem is these are only band aids and will actually hurt us in the long run. That leads us to tip number 4… 4. Get a good night’s sleep – Of all the things you can do to reduce your stress, this one might do you the most good. Sometimes when you are stressed or anxious, sleeping can be next to impossible. But if you can just let it go and get a good night sleep, in the morning things just might not look as bad anymore. That leads us to step number 5…5. Just let it go – I realize that this is easier said than done, but whatever it is that is troubling you, I can almost guarantee you that it is probably less important than your health. Learn to let things go. Try to put a positive spin on everything that happens to you. Try this, write down what’s bothering you right before you go to bed on a slip of paper. Ask God to handle it for you over night and see what happens in the morning. 6. Talk to someone – Nobody is an island. You need to get those problems off your chest. Keeping your problems inside is only making things worse. Just having someone listen to your problems can make a world of difference, and getting an objective opinion on an issue plaguing you could be the best decision you ever made. 7. Write it down – This one kind of goes back to number 5. If you don’t want to talk about your problems to someone, try writing them down and getting them off your chest that way. Write down what it is and how it is affecting you. Also write down what you’d like to happen. 8. Meditation – I meditate daily. I also practice Tai Chi, Qigong and Yoga. These types of activities can help relieve stress and anxiety while improving your heart health.9. Take active steps to improve your self esteem - A lot of stress and anxiety is self-inflicted, and caused by doubts in your abilities. If this is happening to you try reading books about positive thinking, such as Norman Vincent Peale’s “The Power of Positive Thinking” or “The Magic of Thinking Big” by David Schwartz. Listen to audio recordings on the subject or attend lectures on them. Through this process you can learn to believe in yourself.10. Listen to soothing music – When I’m stressed I like to listen to jazz. Maybe you like classical music. Nothing soothes the soul like slow rhythmic music. Put on a comforting CD or listen to an MP3, sit back and relax.11. Get and stay organized – Do you want to get stressed fast? Then don’t plan your day. The opposite is also true. Planning your day will absolutely reduce your stress. There is nothing like good organization to help you from being stressed out when the tasks begin piling up.12. Do absolutely nothing – This one can actually be the best. Does it get any easier than this? Just spend some alone time, meditate on life, think about all the good things life has given you, and put things back into perspective. Thank God for your life and your blessings. Here’s one last thing. Stop pressuring yourself to be perfect at everything. Start redefining failure as feedback and accept them as they come along. This can go a long way to removing unnecessary stress from your busy life.If stress and anxiety are affecting you I have a FREE stress relief e-Course.