With so much emphasis these days on reducing stress , in an increasingly stressful digital focused society, I just wanted to share some thoughts that I’ve accumulated along my own journey to wellness. These include skills I teach to my clients as well . Here are 10 simple ways to reduce stress in the digital age:
- Talking with family and friends– never underestimate the power of face to face conversation! Reaching out to friends and family- whether by phone, or text, or handwriting a letter or note, it’s important to stay connected, and with so many social media hubs to now choose from, there is no excuse! Of course, nothing substitutes for the real thing , so try and balance your online to real -life ratio .
- Stay physically active – walk, run, bike, swim, dance, or hike. Regular exercise is a great stress buster. It also keeps you mentally sharp, and lowers your risk of depression. Try and get outside as much as possible to break away from many forms of technology that you might need a reprieve from.
- Accept things that you cannot change; instead of complaining, focus on what you are able to do. It’s possible to learn different skills and work toward new goals
- Laugh. A lot. Laugh out loud at jokes, watch funny movies, or go a club. Great to do alone, even better surrounded by friends.
- Say “Buh- bye” to bad habits . If alcohol is your vice, cut back, if you smoke, even occasionally, quit. Restrict your caffeine intake.
- Take it easy, plan ahead, and pace yourself. It’s not a sprint, it’s a marathon! This will give you enough time to get things done.
- Sleep until your feel rested. Strive to get about 8 hours of sleep nightly, try exercising if it’s tough to get sleep , it can help you sleep better
- Organize your life try working on tasks one at a time. if working on a big project, start slowly, and complete it in small pieces
- Help others if you’ve got the time to do a favor for someone, or volunteer, do so gracefully, It is true that it feels great to help other people, it also takes your mind off your own stressors.
- Worry less, and take each day as it comes and don’t get twisted up in knots over small problems .
If you start to think of each of these as currency ,you’ll find yourself “banking”, more of these skills into your everyday life, improving your overall quality of life . If you can make time for Netflix, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook , and a myriad of other social media hubs, you most certainly have time to de-stress.
