How To DestressDo you want to learn how to destress? With work, school, family, and other commitments, life can certainly be hectic. It is easy to get stressed out. Even birthdays, graduations, weddings, and other times when we are supposed to be celebrating can become more stressful than fun, what with all the planning, organizing, cleaning, and cooking. Sometimes, we all get caught up in the busyness of life. Here are some tips for how to destress and how to enjoy life more: 1. Take 5 minutes to sit in silence. Go somewhere where you can be alone (even if that is the bathroom!). Clear all thoughts from your head and focus on how good it feels to be "empty headed". This is a good time to get back in touch with yourself, to listen to your breathing, and to feel your chest rising and lowering with each breath. This will get you "grounded" back into the present moment and help to alleviate stress. 2. Refocus on what is truly important to you. Step outside of yourself and view your life as though you were a stranger looking in from the living room window. What does your life look like? Are you headed in the right direction? Are you living your life purpose? If you think that you don't have enough time in your day to get everything done, what would the stranger say? Would the stranger suggest earlier bed times? Less TV? Less time on the internet? 3. Turn off your phone and email for at least1 hour a day. This will allow you some time to live your life, without any interruptions. 4. Slow down. Instead of "running" from one appointment to the next, try "walking" instead. Give yourself a few extra minutes and enjoy the current task at hand. For example, the other day, just as I was pulling into my driveway, my favorite song came on the radio. As I began to turn off the car, I stopped myself and decided to turn up the radio instead. I probably looked silly, as I sat in my driveway with the music cranked up, but taking the time to really listen to my favorite song was so much fun! 5. Give someone a hug. 6. Give your dog or cat a good belly rub and take the time to notice the soft glow of appreciation in their eyes....it will melt your heart. 7. Take a 20 minute run or walk. Just getting your body moving will help to alleviate stress and increase your energy. 8. Every day, decide what your top priority is for that day and then get it done first. If you are out of clothes and need to go to the dry cleaner, then make that the first errand that you run for the day. This will eliminate the need to remind yourself throughout the day to remember to pick up the dry cleaning. 9. Also, getting "first things done first" is a great tip for how to destress because once your most important task is done, you are free to CREATE the rest of your day exactly as you would like it to be. You will have control over your schedule and your time and you can CHOOSE what to do with the rest of your free time. Yes, the family still needs to be fed and the dishes washed, but you could decide to make "doing the dishes" tomorrow's top priority and spend tonight with your family...(not doing the dishes is how to enjoy life- in my opinion!)
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