7 Ways to Live Stress-Free Even When It Seems Impossible

Life is unpredictable and that makes it hard to live stress-free…

It is fraught with challenges, curveballs, and hurdles.

While many things are beyond your control, knowing that you still have the autonomy to change how you react instead of what occurs can give you some reprieve.

You cannot change what life throws at you, but you can reconsider your attitude and mindset.

Here are 7 ways to live stress-free even when it seems impossible…

1. Establish a Routine

Establishing a routine can help you eliminate certain stressors that make you feel like you are losing a sense of control.

Having a routine encourages healthy habits and can give you some clarity each day. This provides you with something to look forward to, and it also gives your life structure, which can consequently manage stress and anxiety.

2. Meditate

On ‘Great Self-Awareness Examples & Activities’ we discussed how meditation is an effective way of getting in touch with your inner self, which in turn, helps you better understand your reality.

It enhances self-awareness as it grounds you to pay attention to both the mind and body. It can come in many forms. Some people may pray as a form of meditation, while others just remain still and focus on the present.

Don’t feel pressured by any particular meditation practice – anything that encourages mindfulness is valid.

3. Focus on Your Breathing

When you are overwhelmed, you sometimes need to take a literal pause and deep breath. Stop what you are doing and just focus on your breathing. While this sounds silly, you may not realize how much you need it.

WebMd suggests pending some time being conscious of your breaths in and out. You take a deep breath and hold your breath for a count of five, then exhale for the same count.

Repeat this five times, and try to see how much more relaxed you feel after.

4. Bullet Journal

One of the best things you can do to monitor and observe your feelings is to keep a journal. While the idea of writing long-form entries everyday may seem daunting and exhausting, you can do it in bullet form.

In fact, Ryder Carroll invented the concept of the Bullet Journal with the purpose of helping people find what they write quickly later on. It is considered a “mindfulness practice disguised as a productivity tool.”

You can get a full picture of your life and work, manage your priorities, and essentially declutter your mind.

5. Dance it Out

Living stress-free also means that you welcome having some fun. You shouldn’t take yourself too seriously, and one fantastic way to prove that you don’t is to simply dance it out.

Even spending a few minutes blasting your favorite song and dancing free style is guaranteed to put a smile on your face and take your mind off of whatever is bugging you.

6. The Five Year Rule

In the heat of the moment, you may stress over a particular decision or event to an unnecessary degree. When you do this, you end up confusing your priorities.

When you find yourself stressing over something, ask yourself if it will matter in five years. Time is a valuable asset, and this rule helps you understand that some things aren’t worth sweating over.

This urges you to re-evaluate your perspectives and to focus your energy on the things that will matter to you in five years.

7. Organize and Protect Your Space

You may roll your eyes at the thought of cleaning up, but organizing your space is a sure way of mitigating stress and anxiety.

Just think about the number of times you have freaked out over being unable to find something, or have just been unmotivated to do a task because of the clutter.

Cleaning up and putting things back in their proper place can calm you down and clear your head. Since your space is a reflection of what you feel internally, you need to protect this space by maintaining it as best as you can.

About the Author

Written by Wendy Kirk