9 Ways to Reduce Stress in Your Life
Do you find yourself living in a world of chaos? Are you feeling the effects of stress hitting you hard? As women, we tend to want to do it all to prove we can be successful. However, taking on more can have negative effects on our emotional and physical health.
Here are 9 simple ways to help ease stress in your life and promote a happier you.
Create a meal schedule. By organizing a meal schedule you can invite other family members to help with meal preparation and give you time to do other things. You can make it fun for the family by assigning specialties such as Meatless Monday or Taco Tuesday.
Batch cook meals. Selecting a day specifically for batch cooking can help in the long run by having multiple prepared meals for those days on the go and provides options of what to eat through the week.
If you have kids, involve them in the cleaning process. Assign a job to each child (age appropriate) and create a reward system based on the job assigned. This gives the child a sense of responsibility and acknowledgement for their contribution.
Convenience in some foods can be beneficial. For example, if you are limited on time to meal prep and a recipe calls for veggies, opt for frozen veggies that have already been peeled, precut, and easy to serve.
Schedule errands, appointments, or other to-dos in blocks so as to get them out of the way faster rather than at random times through week. By scheduling ahead, you can better prioritize time and have extra time for pampering yourself.
Do a mental dump on paper. Make a list of all the tasks you would like to get done in a specific time frame (day, week, month). By listing out the tasks, you can filter what is a priority and work through those tasks first.
Unplug at night. Set time to just wind down and relax at least an hour before bedtime. For example, removing electronics and avoiding watching or reading the news are great ways as these tend to stimulate the mind right before bed, therefore interrupting sleep.
Pick one activity just for you and do it! That means a yoga class, lunch with friends, or walks at the park can give you a break from the daily routine and serve as a refresher.
Don’t be afraid to say no to people. We tend to add on more responsibilities out of fear for being criticized. It is important that we only focus on what we can do at the moment and learn to delegate what we cannot commit to.
And remember, you are NOT required to fill the shoes of Superwoman. In fact, be your own superhero!