Life can be hard sometimes. If you’ve been dealing with stress, here are some practical ways to make life easier for you.
For many people, every day is a new challenge. But there are days that seem to be more difficult.
When deadlines are closing in, and chores are piling up, it’s not easy to cope with elegance and chill. And the price of toughing through may lead to stress, fatigue, or even worse, burnout.
But you don’t have to go there. You can tackle what life throws at you with ease and still get things done. It requires changes in your lifestyle and mentality that are well worth the effort. Keep scrolling to find ways to make life easier.
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Practical ways to make life easier
Single-tasking
If you are tired of jumping from tab to tab, single-tasking or mono-tasking may be an essential way to make life easier for you.
Studies have proven that multitasking will not increase your productivity. On the contrary, it harms your efficiency. It creates tremendous pressure as you try to keep up with everything simultaneously.
If that resonates with you, try to keep one tab open, do one thing at a time, and also turn off unnecessary notifications. This way, you can focus better and get things done.
Stop forcing yourself to focus
As much as you need to focus at work, forcing yourself to concentrate might not be as beneficial as you expect.
Instead, try to limit distractions like your phone, app notifications, and emails and naturally fall into your best status.
Also, difficulties in focusing might be a sign of burnout. So schedule your rest time and give your brain a much-needed break. Sometimes rest is the most productive thing you can do.
Schedule your downtime
Many people equal productivity to working with no rest. But that’s anti-human.
Our bodies and minds need time to rest and rejuvenate. So instead of working until you can’t and blaming yourself, schedule your downtime in your day. It will help eliminate the feeling of guilt and give yourself a break.
Have a must-do list
Many stress themselves by having too many items on their daily to-dos.
So instead of over-stuffing your schedule, try to keep it brief by only listing the things you have to do. Of course, this will force you to prioritize. But the sense of accomplishment will be rewarding.
Overcome your limiting beliefs
Sometimes you can be your worst enemy. For example, you may tell yourself you can’t achieve your goals because you haven’t gone to college or don’t have enough money.
But that’s not necessarily true. Holding onto these thoughts are like driving with the brake on.
A way to unlearn them is by identifying and challenging those ideas. This workbook will help you to overcome your limiting beliefs and reach your potential.
Stop caring about what others think
One of the most empowering life mottos is, “your life isn’t yours when you care too much about what others think.”
So embrace a me-first mentality and care less about others’ opinions. And do everything to impress yourself, not others. This way, life will feel much easier as you no longer need to prove yourself to others. Instead, all you need to do is to make yourself proud.
Identify your personal goals
The first step to making your life easier is to identify what you want in life. Having a specific personal goal is key to beating confusion and frustration.
If you are unclear about your goal, try to think about your passion, childhood dreams and core values. Or you can search through this list to find yours.
Reconnect with your creativity
Creative people can think outside the box and see the world from a different perspective. They are constantly looking for unexpected ways to solve their problems and improve their lives.
The good news is, creativity is a strength. The more you practice, the better you will be. So if you sometimes feel stuck and can’t get out of the rut, try these strategies to reconnect with your creative side.
Have a mood-boosting morning routine
A good morning routine can help you wake up in the morning, get your blood pumping, and start your day off with a positive mindset.
So if you want to kick off your day strong, try to limit scrolling after you get up and incorporate mindfulness and physical exercise. Or give these healthy morning routines a try.
Have boundaries and stick to them
Living the way you want is hard if your boundaries are violated. However, you may feel guilty about keeping your boundary because it feels selfish to say no.
That’s why it’s important to remember you have the right over your time, energy, and space. And those who genuinely respect you will respect your needs as well.
Allow yourself to make mistakes
Mistakes are part of life, and they can help you learn. No one is perfect. Perfectionism only leads to stress or procrastination. So have more sympathy for yourself and let yourself grow through trial and error.
A self-care routine
Self-care is often the first thing out of the window when you have to juggle between inescapable roles. But the lack of self-care can lead to burnout and stress.
So try to include easy self-care ideas into your day. It can be as simple as taking a warm bath or giving yourself a gentle massage.
Practice minimalism
Minimalism is a lifestyle that can help make life easier with less stress and more happiness. When you get rid of the excess, you can focus on what’s truly important to you.
And it doesn’t limit to cutting the physical belongings. It also means prioritizing your tasks, keeping a circle small, and investing your time wisely. Check out these minimalism quotes that will inspire you to simplify your life.
Talk about it
Opening up about what’s bothering you will help to sort out your thoughts. When you express your feelings to someone you trust, you are more clear about your problems. And by being vulnerable, you encourage others to do so as well.
Prioritize your needs
Most burnout happens when you sacrifice your well-being in order to fulfill your responsibilities. So nourish your physical and mental needs before jumping to someone else’s rescue. This is how you take back control over your life and make life easier.
Practice meditation
There are many benefits of meditation, such as lowering blood pressure, reducing stress, and helping you sleep better.
But most importantly, it allows you to be more aware of your thoughts and emotions. It makes life easier by building resilience and cultivating mental clarity. If you are new to the practice, this beginner meditation guide is for you.
Cut off toxic people
To make your life easier, you need to limit the toxicity in your life. Toxic people drag you down and make you feel like you don’t deserve anything better.
Once you spot the toxic people or fake friends in your life, make a plan to cut ties or distance yourself from them. Clear them out so you can start breathing fresh air.
Embrace a growth mindset
Sometimes you may feel frustrated facing temporary setbacks. Or you feel like you let yourself down by not achieving your goals. This is the sign of a fixed mindset.
But with a growth mindset, you focus on progress and improvements because you know your skills can be developed.
It also allows you to learn from your mistakes instead of being stuck in disappointment. This shift of mindset will not only make your life easier. It will also set you up for personal success.
Have a mentor or role model
Your mind can feel stuck when you only focus on yourself. Having someone to look up to can give you a sense of direction and inspiration. Learning how they cope with stress and adversities may also encourage you to do so with a positive attitude.
Keep a gratitude journal
One major source of unhappiness is forgetting about what we have: our families, friends, food on the table, and a roof over our heads. These are all precious things we often take for granted.
Gratitude journaling shifts your focus from what you lack to what you have. This positive attitude will make you feel blessed and worry less about uncertainties.
You can start by writing down 3 things you are grateful for. And make it part of your morning or nighttime routine.
Keep your space organized
When you keep your place organized, you don’t need to spend time searching for items you need. A clutter-free space also helps bring calmness and peace.
So start by donating what you don’t need. Then assign a designated spot for each item.
Write about your feelings
It’s nice to have someone you can fully trust and vent to anytime. But if you don’t have that luxury, writing about your feelings can also help tremendously.
Also, it doesn’t have to be as consistent as journaling daily. You can write about your struggles, worries, or anything you want. The key is to express yourself and try to build a strong awareness in the process.
Live in the moment
Drowning in the past or worrying about the future will add unnecessary stress to your life. In order to live more presently, try writing down your struggles and worries. Talking to someone you trust and practicing gratitude will also bring your focus back to now.
1-minute breathing exercise
Breathing has incredible calming power. TEDx speaker Rebecca Cafiero suggests focusing on your breath for 60 seconds. It will help ground yourself, and you can do this short breathing exercise anytime, anywhere.
Ask for help
Asking for help is not a sign of weakness but courage.
It can be daunting when you try to solve a problem on yourself or heal from a traumatic experience. And a helping hand and a third-person perspective can be a game-changer.
Learning to ask for help and be vulnerable will not only make life easier but also connect you with those who genuinely care about you.
Delegate
You may be able to do everything independently, but there are better ways.
Learning to delegate will take away part of the burden on your should. And sharing your workload, you demonstrate trust in your coworkers and families, which will strengthen your bond with them.
Build a strong support network
A strong support network refers to a tight circle of friends or families who will help you out when you need it. They are the ones who guide you through tough times and support you at your lows.
But if you don’t have one right now, start by identifying your people and keep them close. Also, always be ready to help them, as the best way to have friends is by being one.
Brain-dumping
Brain-dumping refers to writing down your worries, fears, to-dos, and unprocessed emotions on paper. This seemingly simple mindfulness practice allows you to sort things out and stop carrying the baggage in your head.
If you are new to brain-dumping, I’ve created a free template for you to get started.
Make sure you have enough sleep
A good night’s sleep is key to how you feel and perform the next day. Conversely, when you are sleep deprived, you are more likely to experience fatigue, anger, and impatience.
To improve your sleep quality, try to wind down 1 or 2 hours before bed. Stay away from your screens and switch to something less stimulating, like reading and stretching. Waking up feeling refreshed will make life easier for you.
Sleep and get up at the same time each day
Waking up and going to bed simultaneously each day is essential to better sleep. A fixed sleep pattern allows your biological clock to function at its best. As a result, it’s easier to fall asleep at night and wake up fresh in the morning.
Stay hydrated
Water is the most essential element in your system. It allows your brain and body to function properly. When dehydrated, you may experience mood swings, brain fog and fatigue. Those are not what you want when you already have too much on your plate.
So to perform at your best, make sure you drink enough water each day. According to Mayo Clinic, men should have 3.7 liters of water a day and 2.7 liters for women.
If you often forget to drink water, try using an app or a tracking bottle as reminders.
A wholesome breakfast
A productive morning sets the tone for the entire day. It’s also shown that a healthy breakfast helps to reduce stress.
To power your body with the best fuel, you should have good protein, fiber, fat, and carbohydrates for breakfast. Meanwhile, avoid highly processed, sugary or greasy food.
Eat more fiber
The fiber in your meals helps improve digestion. And compared to carbs, fiber causes less blood sugar surge, thus helping to avoid brain fog or fatigue. So if you’ve been eating enough but are still feeling tired, it’s time to add some greens.
Be aware of your caffeine intake
A cup of coffee may do wonders in the morning. But too much caffeine in the afternoon may influence your sleep at night. So if you are a coffee person, try to limit your coffee earlier in the day and avoid it past noon.
Eat every 3 to 4 hours
Your body and brain need fuel to perform at their best and tackle your everyday challenges. So to make life easier, try to replace a big meal with small portions every 3 to 4 hours.
You can add healthy snacks between breakfast and lunch and in the afternoon before dinner. This way, you won’t experience extreme fluctuations in blood sugar. And your energy level will maintain at a high level.
Be more active
The busier you are, the less likely you will have time to exercise. But studies have shown that exercises help boost your energy level and mood. Even a brief yoga session or walking outside can refresh your body and mind.
Do yoga
Yoga is all about balance. The postures and movements help channel your power and restore your inner peace. In addition, regular yoga practice will prepare you mentally and physically for your tasks at work and home.
Sing along
Singing might not be the most obvious ways to make life easier. But it’s proven that it helps release happy hormones and lower your stress level. It also allows you to breathe your worries out.
Feeling overwhelmed? Pick a song and sing along.
Get more sunshine
Letting more sunshine in your house or walking in outdoors will refresh your mood and enhance your energy. This is particularly helpful if you experience winter blues, partially caused by the lack of sunshine.
Which of these strategies makes your life easier?
Have you already been trying some of these tips? If so, leave a comment below or share your ways to make life easier.
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