7 Habits To Reduce Stress

I am an easily stressed person. If I’ve got a work overload or a pressing deadline I will naturally start to worry and stress about everything that’s on my plate. Sometimes it can all just get a bit too much. As much of a stressor as I can be, I have found that slipping into simple, healthy habits makes each day go by a little smoother. To battle stress, I’ve put together 7 habits to get into to reduce stress. I personally find these have helped me massively, both in reducing my stress and generally making me a happier person.

1. Wake up early every morning

This may not be such a good thing to start with, but the benefits are endless. Mornings can often be an unnecessary stress trigger: time is always of the essence, you’ve forgotten this, have you remembered that? Instead, wake up early every morning so you have more time to potter around the house and get things done at your own pace. There’s no morning rush, you can actually take your time and complete tasks without looking at your watch to see how late you’ll be.

2. Meditate

I’m a big advocate of meditation. I find that it’s such an easy way to instantly de-stress and feel calmer. Although I love to use the Calm app, meditation is as simple as finding a quiet space to sit down and focus on yourself. Notice your posture, your breathing, or even, if it helps, on an object in the room. This can be as short as 2 minutes or as long at 30 minutes, but it clears your mind straight away. Try do this every day for a few minutes, like 2 minutes before bed or when you get up each morning.

3. Establish routines

Stress can often be triggered by having lots to do and not knowing where or when to start. By establishing routines, you’re getting into the flow of your day. Have a morning, evening and work routine so you know how your day will pan out. You’ll have a clear vision of what you need to get done and in what order, whether it’s your skincare routine or feeding the dog. This reduces the stress that comes hand in hand with rushing around the house trying to everything all at once.

4. Go for forest walks

Nature is an instant stress relief that sits right on your doorstep. Simple go outside for a long walk once a week to clear your mind and just be. There’s no hustle and bustle of the city, no car horns beeping away, no traffic jams, just you and nature. I find this one of the most effective ways to reduce stress. Just remember to wrap up warm!

5. Journal

At first, this can sound a bit silly. What am I, twelve? But seriously speaking, this has scientifically proven benefits on emotional well being (here I am, going all geeky on you). Every night before I go to bed, I write 2 or 3 sentences in my Every Day 5 year journal. This is a gorgeous variation on the One Line A Day diary (and looks even better on my bedside table). I love to write about what made me happy that day, what made me proud, or what I’m looking forward to. Get something heavy off of your chest, too, as keeping something locked up isn’t good for you. This is part of my evening routine, a part that helps me end my day on a happy note.

6. Drink green tea

This is another habit that leans towards the more scientific side of things. Like journaling, green tea has endless benefits to the mind. It has soothing qualities that help to relieve stress and anxiety. Drink one cup of this every morning to get a caffeine boost (a much healthier alternative to coffee) and start the day off on a stress-free, calm, and healthy note.

7. Go to bed early

Lack of sleep is a huge stress trigger. As much as you think staying up all night finishing that project is helping, it’s not. By hitting the hay early, your body has more time to recover from you day of hard work. If I haven’t slept enough, it will hit me hard the next day. It makes me grumpy and stressful, so the more sleep I get the better. Enough sleep impacts how you feel mentally and physically the next day, so I recommend getting at least 7 hours a night.

If you fall into any of these habits, let me know how you get on. What are your tips on reducing stress?

Niamh x