“Many of us feel stress and get overwhelmed not because we’re taking on too much, but because we’re taking on too little of what really strengthens us.”

— Marcus Buckingham

It happens to all of us if we let it.  We have so much to do, so much expectation placed on us, and yet so little time to do it.  We get so busy that often we forget to take time for ourselves.  We’re all guilty of it unless we’re fully mindful of what we’re doing. 

Laying out each day with a goal and intention has been a lifesaver for me.  Making sure that everything I do serves a purpose.  This might sound hokie to some, but it’s so true. When we take control of the situation, we take away its power to control us.   

I want to share the 4 areas I focus on every day to control the stress and overwhelm in my own life.

The 4 areas of your life with the biggest impact to reduce your daily stress and overwhelm.

Free your mind

Your mind is very powerful, and making sure you’re always in the right place mentally plays a huge part in coping with stress.  Set yourself up each day to be in the best mental space.  Doing so enables you to handle whatever life throws at you.  Here are some things I do daily to get in the ideal mindset.

Have a solid morning routine

Having a solid morning routine sets the stage for the rest of your day.  Get up with purpose.  Spend the first 30 minutes doing something that’s just for you, like reading, journaling, or meditating.

Journal

Get all your thoughts out of your head.  The good, the bad, the ugly, write it all down.  Getting those feelings down on paper can help you process them and allow you to move forward.

Do Something That’s just for you

Not only should you do this first thing, but throughout the day as well.  It doesn’t have to be big or a lot of time. Just make it intentional.

Laugh

Laughter is some of the best medicine.  If you don’t have a clown in your life, find some cute puppy videos online, watch some funny video clips.  Just laugh. 

Give Gratitude

Be grateful for all your blessings.  I start each day with gratitude in my journal.  I have a rule that when I write something negative, I have to find something positive to write about it too. 

Take a moment to breathe

Deep breathing increases the oxygen levels in your brain and tells it to calm down and relax.

Get fresh air

Taking in the fresh air and scents of nature help relieve stress and anxiety. It’s also thought to affect the serotonin levels released into your body, creating a feeling of happiness and relaxation. 

Have a quitting time

Set a hard quitting time for all “work.”  Personal and Business.

Bedtime Routine

Have a solid routine at the end of every day that puts closure on your day.  Sit down with the family to watch TV, read a book in bed, a bubble bath, or a glass of wine.  Whatever helps you unwind and close out your day do it and celebrate your daily wins.

Celebrate Your Wins

No matter how bad you feel, your day has been, celebrate your wins.  Finding the bright spots in a dark day will help you see that the bad only holds a small part of the day.  Helping you let it go.  So, celebrate those wins. 

Just keep scrolling

Being intentional with social media can reduce stress dramatically.  We all have opinions, and it’s easier to express them from behind a keyboard.  If social media is how you stay connected with friends and family, keep it intentional. Don’t read controversial posts, and most definitely, don’t read the comments.  Nothing good comes from either.  Avoid profiles of people who are always negative. Delete them if you can.  Above all, see something you don’t like. Just keep scrolling.

Take care of your body

Yes, this is so very important.  Moving our body and proper nutrition ensure our body has what it needs to run optimally.  Oxygen, endorphins, vitamins, minerals.  It’s all crucial to maintaining a healthy balance in our bodies.  Increasing our ability to think clearly and be in a better mood overall.   

Move your body

This doesn’t have to be intense exercise, although it can be. Just get moving. Take a walk, stretch, dance in your kitchen.  Get the blood pumping. 

Eat Healthy Meals

The food we put in our bodies affects not only our waistline but also our mood and how we feel in general.  When we feel good, that World is amazing.  Many of the vitamins and minerals found in “healthy” foods help promote proper brain function and regulates your mood. 

Eat Regularly

Making sure to eat regularly ensures your brain is properly fed with the nutrients it needs.  We all know what “hangry” looks like.  You get irrational and can’t think clearly.  Eating regularly will help you avoid this unsightly situation. 

Sleep

Your body needs sleep to recover.  The amount of sleep you need varies by person, but on average, 6-9 hrs per night.  When we’re well-rested, we’re able to think clearer and cope with what life throws at us. 

Increase your productivity

When we’re productive, we feel amazing!  There’s no better feeling than knowing you slayed your day.  So get to work on those projects that are looming over your head.  

Have a to-do list

In order to get things done, you need a list.  Being able to see everything you need to do and everything you’ve accomplished is a huge factor in being productive. If you’ve never tried a to-do-list, check out my post on the benefits of having one. 

Plan it

Plan your day and week ahead of time.  Planning things out helps alleviate unnecessary stress. I feel it’s so important I wrote a couple of posts on exactly how to do each one. I’ll link to those at the end of this post. Take care of the most important thing first – That “One Thing” you have to get done today.  Don’t let it haunt your day or get put off till it doesn’t happen at all. Do it ASAP.

Keep your shoes on

Seriously, I keep my shoes on all day.  I’m not talking 3” heels here, but running shoes or comfortable shoes you can go in.  I find that when I leave my shoes on, I’m more productive.  The moment they come off, my productivity cuts in half.  I think my brain associates them coming off with me relaxing, and that’s not being productive.  Give it a try, leave your shoes on.

Keep the house in order

Imagine this: You finish your highly productive day, and you get to relax with a glass of wine and your favorite tv show.  You know all the bills are paid, and the kids are playing and doing their own thing.  Sounds amazing, right?  You’re the CEO of your home, so making sure it runs efficiently should be a top priority.

Tidy your home

Keeping your home tidy allows your brain to relax.  It’s not trying to focus on everything it sees that needs your attention. 

Look at your finances

Knowing where you are financially can help reduce stress and anxiety.  Keeping a budget helps you always know where you are financially.  You can check out this post on creating a simple budget if you don’t know how to get started. 

Teach your kids to be independent

Have your kids pick up after themselves. Teaching them some basic life skills will empower them to do more for themselves. Make sure they are learning problem-solving and coping skills, and have them play independently.  

Have a cleaning routine

Having a routine to follow and keeping a schedule helps eliminate the stress of how or when you’ll get things done.  You don’t have to do everything in one day unless that’s how you prefer to do it.  If you’ve never tried breaking up your housework throughout the week, I highly recommend it.

Keeping these 4 different areas in check is critical to our over mental well-being.  These are the areas we can control, and taking control of them allows us to better deal with all the things we can not.

Taking care of ourselves, our home, and our family is critical to overall happiness. One thing I’ve learned is that it ALL starts in our mind.  What we believe we can do and what we believe we cannot do. It all becomes our reality.  Keeping focused on the positive, taking control of what we can, and owning it, frees us of the stress and overwhelm.  We set our own expectations, so be kind to yourself, give yourself grace, and above all, love who you are and what you stand for. 

I hope you find focusing on these 4 areas daily helpful in relieving your over-all stress and overwhelm. 

If you found this post helpful, please share it to your social media. You never know who else it may help.   I’d love to hear from you.  Please leave a comment below or shoot me an email if you liked the post, have questions or suggestions regarding this post or any future posts.  

I wish you the very best in creating more calm in your life. 

Related Posts

If you found this post helpful, here are some other posts you may like.