Life’s Too Short to Stress So Much
When it comes to improving your health, there are a lot of ways you can go about it. As a health coach, I often focus on diet and exercise to help improve all aspects of my clients well-being.
But sometimes it’s helpful to take a step back, and really look at the bigger picture. Usually when most of us set the goal of getting healthier, we simply forget to pay attention to including strategies which also help reducing the amount of stress we carry on our shoulders.
How do we get over this stress most effectively? Exercise and diet still play a role, but let’s take a look at some of the ways we can change our mindset and totally beat stress and improve our daily adventures through life.
How to Make Life Easier Right Now
1. Don’t Deny What You Can’t Change
This has been a really important lesson for me personally, so I’m going to start with it. You definitely have a lot of power to change your life for the better, but you can’t totally beat reality. Sometimes life throws things at you that you really have no control over. Rather than denying them, or trying to avoid the inevitable, it can be really liberating to accept things for the way they are and move on. This is true for the little daily stuff as much as it is for the big stuff.
2. Don’t Dwell on the Negative
Negative thoughts can totally stand in the way of your health goals, whether they involve losing weight, getting fit, or just feeling good. Ultimately, it’s about where you put your focus and attention. So what I suggest doing is giving your brain a time limit on the negativity. Next time you find yourself getting into a bad headspace, only let yourself stay there for the next 10 seconds, and switch to something positive. It’s a simple strategy, but if you can get into the habit, it works.
3. Stay Connected with Your Body
Stress usually starts in your head, but it manifests physically in a number of ways. Whether it’s aches and pains, tension, or just fatigue, a day from hell can really do a number on your body. Unfortunately, our world doesn’t really encourage us to stay connected to our bodies, and it can be easy to let the physical tension build up. What I recommend is pretty simple: Take 10 or 15 minutes at the end of the day to do a little deep breathing and muscle relaxation– and let the tension go.
Check out my 25 Ways to Relax in 5 Minutes or Less for more great ideas.
4. Create a Quiet Space Just for You
We should all have our own personal space where we can meditate, take a breather, and relax. If you have an extra room, that’s great, but a corner of your bedroom or even a nice protected outdoor space can do in a snap. Grab some pillows, blankets, candles, and whatever it is that makes you feel at peace. Then get in there at least once a day and breathe.
5. Meditate, Meditate, Meditate…
Meditation is more effective than you may think, and the research supports it when it comes to beating stress and boosting health. Developing a focus on breathing and relaxation is the first step, but then take it further by clearing your mind and visualizing your goals. Yoga is actually a great way to prepare your body for meditation, so you may want to work it in after a yoga routine.
To get a better idea of its health benefits, take a look at the Health Benefits of Yoga here.
6. Spend Some Time Outdoors
I’m convinced that one of our biggest problems today is that we’re less connected with nature. All the research says that spending time in nature, and even having natural elements in our indoor spaces, significantly reduces our stress and makes us happier. So whether it’s for your daily meditation or your cardio workout, get outdoors and breathe a little fresh air. And if you can, get out of the city for a little while.
7. Slow Down – It’s Not a Race
This might just be the hardest lesson to learn, but it could also be the most life-changing. At the end of the day, you’re only competing with yourself to reach your own goals. Believing that anyone else is holding you back, or that you need to get ahead of everyone to find success and happiness, is ultimately only going to result in more stress. The most fulfilling approach to every goal you set, from weight loss to increased strength and energy, is to do it for you and only you.
Whatever you do, consider the possibility that it’s your mindset holding you back. Try one of these tips or try them all – and make your life a little easier today.
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Thank you for visiting! Weight Loss and Training is a health blog which features all the best weight loss tips that I have learned over my 20 years of training. My background includes a degree in Kinesiology from the world renown Simon Fraser University, certification in nutritional sciences from UBC, and Personal Trainer Specialist certification from Can Fit Pro.