How many times have you gotten angry at yourself for misplacing your keys, being late to meet a friend, or forgetting to pay a bill on time? Being angry at ourselves can be one of the most stressful experiences there is. We are our own worst critic. Trying to change this behavior for the better, even a little bit, can help you feel happier and less stressed. Try some of the following tips to get started.
A great tip that can help you keep stress down is to turn off the television. Studies have shown that watching television actually increases our stress levels. You don’t have to stop watching it completely but you should definitely limit how much television you’re going to watch everyday.
Use a ten point system to rate the things that give you stress in your life. One is a small problem, and ten is a huge one. By monitoring your stress on a scale, you will be better equipped to handle issues appropriately.
Use lists for remembering things instead of depending only on your memory to give yourself a little bit of a break throughout the day. When we are overwhelmed with stress it’s harder to remember everything we need to take care of, so prepare for all that your day holds by making a list. Not only will the lack of having to recall details spare you stress but it will save you time as well!
Stay up to date with your repairs in order to remove stress. The more things you need repaired, the more time and energy you will spend to fix them, creating even more stress. Therefore, it is essential that you take care of repairs to reduce stress.
Make sure that if you are staring at a computer at work for the majority of the day, to get up and stretch your body. Stretching is really important, as remaining stagnant for the greater part of the day can increase stress levels. Move around and chat with co-workers to improve how you feel.
Sip on tea to help calm yourself. Chamomile tea is known for its calming effect, but there are also other teas that can calm you as well. Try a cup of passionflower, catnip, kava kava, or skullcap. Steep these herbs for about 10 minutes and you will get the full effects of their calming powers.
In order to manage your stress, take a vacation. This is important because often times people will think that taking a vacation is not possible due to their work load, despite having the vacation time. Many times a change of scenery can help you obtain a clear head and help you straighten things out and get a fresh perspective on them.
A great way to deal with stress is to consider changing your diet. This is important because it is very possible that there is something in your diet that is directly responsible for your moods or feelings. Take a look at what you eat and consider changing it around to test and see if you feel any better.
If something is bothering you emotionally, it is important to let it all out, which will serve to free you of the stress that you are carrying. Have a good cry, as you should show the emotions that you are feeling so that you do not keep them on the inside and feel worse.
As you can see, being kind to yourself really isn’t that hard, and it sure feels better than being stressed and angry. Don’t underestimate the ill effects of stress on your health. Factor the above tips into your daily habits, and you will be making a very positive investment in your health and your life.