How To Live A Stress-Free Life in 2022?
So, ready to start your 2022 in a stress-free way?
1. Create A Routine
I love following a routine. It keeps me on track and in control of my life. It also helps me stay organized with what I do and finish my responsibilities each day. Don't worry, as you don't need to have a perfect routine to have a stress-free life. Here's mine for example:
I typically wake up at 6 in the morning. Then, I say my thanks and gratitude for a few minutes. After that, I get up and make myself a cup of coffee, play with Cooper, cook some breakfast, and sit on my laptop to write. That's pretty much my routine for half a year now. There may be days when my routine is interrupted, but it's okay. Then, I finish my day with a bedtime routine and some soothing music on my playlist until I fall asleep.
There's no one-size-fits-all when it comes to building a routine. As I've said, you're in control of your life and the routine you wish to develop.
2. Wake Up Early
I know this doesn't apply to everyone, especially those working on graveyard shifts. But for those who aren't, make it a habit this year to wake up early. I find it easier to wake up early each day as my body clock has already been set to wake up in the wee hours of the morning.
When you wake up early, you have more time to do things by yourself while other people are still asleep. You can start your day early, and you can even witness the sunrise if you want to. You can either practice your meditation, write in your journal, enjoy your coffee, or simply be still and enjoy a few minutes of solitude. Starting your day on a good note will help you manage your stress levels easier.
3. Practice Self-Care
I can't stress this enough. Everyone should make time for self-care. I know some of you are probably juggling multiple responsibilities in a day, like going to work, taking care of your kids, and doing household chores. But then, you need to remember that you're a human being, and you're not a machine. Yes, you may have responsibilities, especially if you're the breadwinner. But keep in mind that you can never give your best if you're constantly stressed, exhausted, and uninspired.
So, devote at least a few minutes of your day to do some self-care practices. These may include:
- reading your favorite book
- watching your comfort movie/show
- taking a nap
- meditating
- writing on your journal
- eating at your favorite restaurant
- playing with your dog (THIS IS MY ULTIMATE SELF-CARE ROUTINE LOL)
- going out with your friends (better yet, with yourself)
In short, self-care is anything that makes you happy and makes you feel yourself again. So, try it and do more of it without any guilt because you deserve it, honey!
4. Pay Your Debts
One of the leading causes of human stress is debt, especially since nowadays, debts are prevalent due to the pandemic and the after-effects of the typhoon Odette. But even without the pandemic and the typhoon, money is still a huge stress factor for many. So, what's the solution? Pay your debts. That's right. Running away from your debts will only worsen your conscience and your stress levels.
So, go out of your way to make money and settle your debts. Well, I do. I still have a loan which I'll need to pay for the next two years. Two years is a long time to be stress-free, but I'm almost there. So, pay your debts, and a few years from now, you'll have a stress-free and debt-free life.
5. Get Off Your Social Media
Really, it's like 98% of the people in the world are so into social media now. While there's nothing wrong with using your Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter, they're actually one of the primary sources of stress. Every time you read some awful news on social media, you feel stressed. When you find someone living a better life than you, some of you feel stressed and begin comparing yourselves to others. When you see political posts that contradict your belief, you comment on that post and feel stressed.
Seriously, it's like our lives are mostly on social media now. I used to be a social media junkie too. I remember when I was in high school and college, I would add random people on Facebook so that I could get 5,000 Facebook friends and have lots of likes and comments on my photo. I also made 12 Instagram accounts when I was in HS so I could use them to like my Instagram photos and make it appear that I have lots of likers. But as I grew up, I realized that what I was doing did not make any sense. I got stressed every time my pictures didn't get enough likes. It was so absurd, hahahaha, but thankfully, I've moved on from that era.
Now I only have 50 Facebook friends and on Twitter. I have an IG account, but goodness, I forgot the password, hahaha! During my break time, I use my phone to visit YouTube or Netflix, and that's pretty much it. My life has never been better.
6. Be Kind
The world is already tough so don't make it anymore tougher for yourself or for anyone. Make it a practice to do something kind each day. It doesn't necessarily have to be elaborated or costly like donating money every day. Kindness can be in any form. You can spread kindness by:
- Smiling on strangers
- Complimenting your parents, loved ones, or co-workers
- Wishing a birthday greeting to your old friend
- Giving candy to a kid
- Listening to a friend who needs to be heard
As they say, kindness is free, so give it away every day and live a stress-free life in return.
Living a stress-free life isn't necessarily about the absence of stress. Instead, it's about knowing how to manage it to ensure it doesn't get the best of you. As for myself, I'm still working on some of these tips, but I know I'm getting there. Just remember that attaining a stress-free life begins with changing your decisions, spreading more kindness, and making better life choices. Soooo, peace be with y'all and ciao!
Comments
Post a Comment