Stress Management- 36 Simple Ways to Reduce Stress

I had read an interesting article recently on reducing stress and thought it appropriate to share it with all of you.

Below are 36 simple ways to reduce stress.

1) Pray/meditate.

2) Go to bed on time.

3) Get up on time so that you can start the day unrushed.

4) Say 'NO' to projects that won't fit into your time schedule, or that will compromise your mental health.

5) Delegate tasks to people who are capable.

6) Simplify and unclutter your life.

7) Less is more. (My comments on this- although one is often not enough, however two are often too many.)

8) Allow extra time to do things and to get to places.

9) Pace yourself.  Spread out big challenges and difficult projects over time. (My view is, not over time but on time and it requires careful planning); don't lump the hard things all together. (Personally speaking, to avoid stress, deal with difficult tasks one by one and according to priorities rather than delaying them.  Delaying always increases anxiety and stress.)

10) Take ONE day at a time.

11) Separate worries from concerns.  Deal with situations accordingly.  If you can't do anything about the situation, then forget it.

12) Live within your budget; don't use credit cards for ordinary purchases.

13) Have backups; such as an extra car key in your wallet, an extra house key buried in the garden etc.

14) K.M.S (Keep Mouth Shut) (I think that this single piece of advice can prevent an enormous amount of trouble.)

15) Do something for the kid in you everyday.

16) Carry a Holy book/novel or something interesting to you while waiting in line.

17) Get enough rest.

18) Eat right.

19) Get organized so that everything has its place.

20) Listen to music whenever you get the time. Music is indeed food for the soul.

21) Write down thoughts and inspirations. (This is what I believe, and that is write about something that you are good at.  Writing improves and clears your thought processes in a synchronized manner.)

22) Find time to be alone everyday.

23) Don't take problems to bed.

24) Make friends with people who are the same mental level as yours.

25) Take time to visit nature.

26) Remember that the shortest bridge between despair and hope is often good "THANK YOU GOD".

27) Laugh.

28) Laugh some more. 

29) Take your work seriously but not yourself at all.

30) Develop a forgiving attitude. (Most people are doing the best that they can)

31) Be kind to unkind people. (Hmmm, well I for one think that it is difficult to do but not impossible.)

32) Sit on your ego.

33) Talk less, listen more.

34) Slow down sometimes.

35) Remind yourself that you are not the General Manager of the Universe.  (Hey! You can't do everything, so just relax.)

36) Every night before going to bed, think of one of your day's achievements or things that make you happy and sleep happy.

An angel said, "Never borrow from the future.  If you worry about what may happen tomorrow and it does not happen, you have worried in vain. Even if it does happen, you have to worry twice".

The best advice I can give you about reducing stress is just to K.I.S.S (Keep It Straight and Simple).  Don't do things in your life to complicate matters. It will only give you more stress. Above all, try not to worry and be happy!!