Everyone feels strained and stressed at some point in their life. But too much stress can hinder your ability to function properly.
You cannot concentrate on the tasks on hand; constantly thinking about what happens in the future or why something happened in the past hampers your ability to have peace in your life. It also lessens your productivity and efficiency at work.
Stress attacks your immune system and hinders your body’s fight mechanism.
According to the National Ag Safety Database (NASD), about 90% of illnesses are caused by stress. It can interfere with your bodily functions and cause high blood pressure, heart disease, and other cardiovascular issues.
Having said that, it is the right of everyone to live a stress-free life where they don’t have to be depressed about Mondays or feel that others’ lives are much better than theirs.
But, how can you live a stress-free life? Is there even a way? You will be surprised to know that most stress you feel is either because of too much action or inaction. So, a balanced lifestyle is the first prerequisite for living a stress-free life.
Others ways to promote living a stress-free life include the following.
- Make an estate plan while you can
Death is a reality that no one can deny. You might be thinking about your kids’ future and who will take care of them in case of your sudden death. But only thinking is not enough.
Have you thought about anything? Any estate plan, such as a trust fund or a will? If not, you might not be the only one doing this despite having panic attacks about your family’s safety and financial freedom.
More than 50% of Americans have not made any will. It means that they are unsure what will happen to their children and family if something happens to them.
An estate plan in the form of a will or a trust fund delineates who will take care of your kids and how their finances will be managed. Trust funds secure your child’s future, protecting your assets from damage. As for the will, it saves the family from having fights and arguments about who will have what.
After you are done securing your family’s future, you are bound to lead a happy and stress-free life.
- Practice self-care
Care for your family and kids is important, but caring for yourself is essential too. Besides, you are in no position to care for your loved ones if you neglect your health and well-being.
Ignoring your health will make you fall ill. So, practice self-care and eat a healthy diet. Your diet should be a balanced combination of all the essential nutrients. It also means less processed and fast food and more natural food such as fruits, vegetables, and meat.
All in all, a healthy diet means reducing cortisol levels in your body. It prepares your body for a fight-and-flight situation. It is sometimes called the stress hormone because your adrenaline glands release it when under stress.
Foods that are known for reducing cortisol and anxiety include:
- Dark chocolate
- Avocado
- Broccoli
- Pumpkin seeds
- Spinach
- Eggs
- Beef
- Salmon
- Oyster
- Olive oil
- Strengthen your relationships
Having discord in relationships can cause stress. Therefore, working on your relationships will help you live a stress-free life.
The best way to mend your relationships is by developing better communication. Talk to your loved ones, discuss your issues, and articulate your needs. Often relationships weaken because you fail to express your feelings and reservations about your relationships.
Instead of keeping the hard feelings inside you, be open about them and share to resolve them before they boomerang and cause more damage.
- Spare some time to do activities you like
Doing what you like is another stress-busting exercise. If you like physical activity, take some time every day for an exercise session.
You have many ways to do so:
- Jogging in the morning
- Hitting the gym for a sweaty exercise session
- Simple physical movements in the comfort of your house
When you exercise, the body discharges feel-good hormones that improve your mood, boost your self-confidence, and increase your productivity at work. Adults should engage in a thirty-minute exercise session every day to have a visible impact on their bodies.
After a taxing day at work, a workout can do wonders in relieving the tension from your muscles and making you feel better about yourself.
Apart from exercising, some of you might like to spend time with your friends and have a cup of coffee. Others want to be couch potatoes and read their favorite book whenever they find spare time.
Do whatever makes you exultant as long as it does not involve anything illegal or detrimental to your health.
- Include yoga in your routine
As much as you are up for doing what you like, be open to taking up new habits and activities to live a stress-free life. Yoga is one of those activities you must include in your regime if you don’t have it.
Twenty minutes dedicated to yoga every day can rejuvenate your mind and body. Due to its scientifically proven stress-relieving effects, it can help you live a stress-free life.
Conclusion
Living a stress-free life is a dream come true for everyone. No one wants to feel uncomfortable with all the stressful thoughts inundating their minds. But living a stress-free life is often a deliberate effort. You must eat food that relieves stress, engage in stress-busting activities, and surround yourself with positive thoughts and people.
