1. Is more better?
Sometimes you might not realize it, but you are steadily acquiring more and more stuff. I once talked with a lady that had 50 pair of shoes. Yes it was her choice. Sometimes all this stuff will not make you happy. Having more stuff may cause for more decision-making. Having more stuff may add to the stress in your life. Could you be happy with a fewer pair of shoes and fewer clothing? Just because you have the space for a lot of stuff, does not mean you should fill it to the brim. Someone once said if you have clothing that you have not worn within a year, then you might want to consider getting rid of it. I have adopted that theory, because I find sometimes when I have less, then I have fewer decisions to make which help to reduce stress in my life. I will usually give the clothing to a worthy charity. I can feel good about that, because there are so many people that do not have adequate clothing. Feeling good about donating your clothing to charity can be a great way to reduce stress.
2. Journal Writing
Writing in a journal can possibly be a way to reduce stress, because when you put your thoughts on paper, you may be able to gain a better perspective of what is causing the problem. I have done this often and it does work.
3. Clutter in the house
Clutter especially in the bedroom can be a great source of stress. When you lay down to sleep, it might be more difficult to do with clutter lurking all around you. The disorganization can make one feel a sense of despair and hopelessness. Then again, I have heard others say that they know where everything is in their clutter and it is their clutter. A way to reduce that stress would be to organize your bedroom, just keep the necessities in it, purchase beautiful bedding, have beautiful pictures on the wall, and make sure the room smells good. When your bedroom is pleasing and beautiful to your eyes, this will help to reduce stress. I find that an organized bedroom helps me tremendously too.
4. Workaholic
Have you known of those that are workaholics? I have been there and done that.They just work themselves so that they never take time to rest their bodies. Our bodies can eventually just wear out. We can wear out physically, spiritually, and emotionally. Just like we need food to eat for nourishment, our bodies need rest. Not getting enough rest can add to our stress. Do you attempt to crowd as many activities as you can into your daily life?
It is a fact that everyone has been given 24 hours in a day. We cannot get more than that in a days time. What do you do with your 24 hours? So why crowd activities into those 24 hours? Life is about balancing. Sometimes I ask myself, “Have I allowed enough time to rest?” “Have I stopped and maybe just not attempted to do anything?” “Did I take time to relax today, even if it was just for 15 minutes?”
5. Meditation and Relaxation
Do you meditate? Meditating ca relax the body. Sometimes just listening to music can be soothing, Do you exercise? Walking is a free exercise that can be a great stress reliever. This is an excellent way of reducing stress. It gets your mind off your stress. When walking you can see the beauty of nature and smell the fresh air. In the wintertime you might have to be creative and walk in the mall or on your tread mill. According to Dave LaHart at Webmd music therapy has been shown to be effective with stroke victims in retraining the brain. He goes on to say Music Therapy (Melodic Intonation Therapy) teaches the right side of the brain to learn to talk again. According to Webmd Medical Reference from HealthWise research has revealed how music works to heal the body and the mind. What type of music do you like to listen too? I find smooth jazz to be very relaxing music.
6. Support System
Single moms that are working may need to seek support systems. During a time when I was a single mother, I sought the help of friends and relatives. Even support groups can offer assistance which can be another way to reduce stress. Often mothers need to work and may not be able to attend their children’s activities at school. Most single mothers that are working are usually hard-working individuals. In fact any working parent that is unable to attend school activities or spend the time that they would like with their families could be a cause of stress. This is a time that they need to reach out to relatives or trusted friends to help assist them. I do not believe God created man to do things alone or to be alone. We are all interdependent of each other. If you don’t ask for help you might not get it.
7. Prioritize
Sometimes we take on too much responsibility resulting in our becoming overwhelmed. It is important to prioritize daily. I have learned when I get up in the morning to have a plan. I have a a list of what I want to accomplish. Be sure to make your list realistic and allow time to accomplish it. Some days are different than others. So what if you do not complete it all today. Do you realize that some things cannot be completed in a day? What about tomorrow? Calendars are great for appointments. Are you trying to remember all your appointments in your head? That can be quite stressful. Write it down.
8. Unhealthy Relationships
Sometimes we need to take a look at our relationships. Unhealthy relationships can cause great stress. In fact, they can cause you to be in a constant state of misery. If you have friends that keep drama going in their lives, this can cause stress. You might want to acquire new friends. Are you someone always wanting to help someone? Not being able to say no can be a source of stress for you. If you want to say no and say yes instead, then you are battling how you really feel. What you truly feel eventually comes out. It does feel good to be able to help others, but there should also be a balance in your life. If there is stress in your life, you may want to see a doctor to be sure that it is not medical. You may want to talk to a psychologist also for professional help . Ultimately throughout life you will be constantly viewing and reviewing you life choices. In order to reduce stress you will be acquiring new ways to eliminate your stress.
Source:
Personal Experience
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