8 New Functional Life Hacks to Reduce Stress

Are you feeling majorly stressed out but find meditation just doesn’t cut it for you? Whenever you check out articles that give you suggestions for reducing stress they’re all the same, aren’t they? Do meditation; eat healthy food, exercise, and get enough sleep. Although these are all good pieces of advice, and are even backed up by science, the truth is, not everything works for everybody.

If you find those “one size fits all” stress reduction rules just don’t work for you, then this is your lucky day. Check out our list of the top 8 new ways you can use to cut the stress from your life. Making those little functional or behavior changes in your everyday routine sometimes are all it takes to really kick stress to the curb.

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1. Cut procrastination with this one simple rule

One of the best ways to dump that procrastination habit is to use the two minute rule. If the thing you really want to put off will take 2 minutes or less (such as make a doctor’s appointment, go through your mail, pay a bill) then do it right now. You might be shocked by what you can get done in two minutes. You will be even more shocked at how taking care of some of those “little things” squish stress like a cockroach you find on the kitchen floor.

2. Make a budget and stick to it

Ok, so this one isn’t fun, but since finances are perhaps one of the greatest sources of stress, then the better you manage your money, the less stress you will be under.

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3. Make stress your motivator

Everyone has those super stressful days. Ok, so rather than dread them, why not use those days to take care of the things you have been putting off. Focus that energy into those projects that require your most serious attention. Not only will you just power through those days, you will feel so much better when the day is done.

4. Write out goals

Make a list of all those little goals ( lose 5 pounds, apply for graduate school, clean out the basement) and then goals for next month, the next year, 5 years, and even 10 year goals. Having things to achieve and then marking them off, give you a better sense of purpose in your life. Read more about habits of the super organized.

5. Be ruthless with your schedule

Do you find that you truly don’t have time to work out? Cancel that Sunday morning brunch with your friends. Want to go back to school? Stop your subscription to Netflix’s and watching those Doctor Who marathons. When it comes to your time, make choices that will give you what you want, choices that will allow you to become the person you want to be, not the person you’ve always been.

6. Keep that resume updated

You never know what the future will bring or when an opportunity for that dream job will come knocking at your door. Be ready when it does! Keep that resume updated and ready to drop on someone’s desk at a moment’s notice. This will give you hope and a sense of optimism that you are not stuck where you are.

7. Remove toxic or negative people from your life

Or if you can’t remove them, at the very least distance yourself from them. If you find you have a major stress attack when you know you are going to see a certain person in your life; a friend, co-worker, even family members, do your best to keep your contact to them at a minimum. Even if you love that person, sometimes we just need to learn to love toxic people from a safe distance.

8. Remember that you are human

Everyone makes mistakes in life. No matter whom they are, no matter how important they might be, they have made mistakes; and so will you. Don’t beat yourself up when you make a mistake, then. It’s much smarter to learn from your mistakes and then just get on with your life. No good comes from stressing out over all the “I should have, could have would have’s’. Don’t bury your head in the sand in shame, either. Own up to it with a confident, “Well, that didn’t go as planned.” Then get over it and move on.

Sources:

Naturalsociety.com

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