The Best Methods To Reduce Stress

Take A Look At The Big Picture

One of the ways to reduce stress is to take a look at the big picture. A situation that seems overwhelming now may not be worth the amount of stress and anxiety you're expending on it. Ask yourself: "Will I or anyone else remember this in five years?" If the answer is no, then there's no need to be totally stressed about it now. If the answer is yes, ask yourself other questions. "How many people does this affect? Does it have a lasting negative impact?" "How much control do I have over the situation? What can I do to solve it? If I can't do anything, why am I worrying about it?" Many of the day-to-day stresses we face aren't actually serious enough to have a lasting impact on either ourselves or others. Rather than focusing exclusively on the anxiety, take a look at the broader picture. You can also take some time to focus on things unrelated to the stress.

Break Down Tasks Further

In many cases, stress occurs because you feel overwhelmed. You may feel as though you don't know how to get from point A to point Z. One example would be looking at a messy room that needs a lot of cleaning. When you think about the total mess, you may become totally stressed out because you don't know how to approach the magnitude. This is when it's helpful to break down tasks further. Sit down with a pad of paper or a blank online document. Write down the task or tasks you need to complete and then break them into smaller, more easily-accomplished chunks. This gives you a step-by-step plan for how to complete the task. It also keeps you from being overwhelmed because you can do the project bit by bit in manageable pieces, rather than trying to tackle it all at once. In addition, you'll get a sense of satisfaction when crossing items off the to-do list. It helps you appreciate the amount of work you've done, instead of being stressed over how much is left to do.