The Beginners Guide to Reducing Stress to Boost Productivity
Feeling a bit more frustrated lately?
When was the last time you got a decent nights rest?
A couple of days ago? Maybe even a week?
It can be hard to get a decent nights rest when stress is keeping you up at night.
But what many people don’t realize is that this lack of sleep is absolutely destroying your productivity.
Which then creates the endless cycle of low productivity, which then causes frustration and then leads to anxiety, which results in little to no sleep.
And on and on this cycle goes until eventually you burn yourself out and you’re wondering what the heck just happened.
In my last blog post, I talked about why self-care was so important and how it can help you live a better life (you can read that blog post here)
Today I wanted to give further thought to that post and share with you some helpful tips to prevent stress from taking over.
Here are my top 7 tips to relieve stress and boost productivity!
1. Exercise
You’ve heard me say it before, and I’ll say it again.
Exercising for just 10-15 minutes (especially in the morning) is one of the best ways to relieve stress throughout the day.
There are many benefits to exercising in the morning, but one of the main things I want to focus on today is confidence!
Working out in the morning gives you a sense of confidence and accomplishment.
It makes you feel good getting up early and getting what may be the most stress your body will face throughout the day.
This stress on your body then relieves mental stress and helps to put you in a better mood.
Try doing a quick core workout with pushups or maybe even some cardio to help get a good sweat going and to relieve mental stress.
2. Writing
I am a big fan of writing! As I stated in my previous blog post on the perfect morning routine...
Writing in your journal can help train your brain if you do it the right way.
The goal isn’t to write down the bad things or what may be stressing you out (even though that can help you identify the cause of your stress)
In the morning it is better to write about your positive experiences and the things you are grateful for to help train your brain to look for positivity instead of negativity.
3. Aromatherapy Candles
Burning essential oil candles provide a sense of relaxation and helps to calm the mind whenever you are feeling tense or stressed out.
Try burning a Lavender candle or even just smelling the lavender aroma to help put your mind at ease.
Lavender is also great for removing any nervous exhaustion or restlessness to help you sleep when you are feeling anxious.
Check out our Lavender Aromatherapy Set Here.
4. Spend Time with Friends & Laugh!
Laughter may well be the best medicine.
Spending too much time focusing on work can often make you feel like if you do anything else, you are wasting time.
But it is important to take a break and spend time with those who make you laugh so hard your cheeks start hurting from smiling so much!
Spending time with good friends also gives your mind a break which can then help your subconscious mind find the answers that you may have been trying to force.
It’s ok to relax every once in a while.
Start by setting aside at least one day a week to go hang out with a friend.
5. Meditation
Practicing living in the present moment is a great way to relieve stress and anxiety.
We often stress about our future and how we will be able to make enough money to get out of debt or provide for our family.
But practicing living in the present and letting go of the unknown is a great way to stay emotionally grounded.
Everything we need is right here in the present moment! Do not rush to the future and miss out on life and what is going on right now.
For more on meditation check out my blog post on the ultimate bedtime routine here.
6. Music
Listening to music has saved my life more times than I can even count.
No matter what type of music you listen to on a daily basis. It is good to have an instrumental playlist to help you unwind and relax.
Listening to white noise and the sound of nature are also great ways to calm the mind.
(Stay tuned, I will be sharing my music playlist soon!) — Subscribe below to stay updated
7. Spend Time with Your Significant Other
Spending time with the person you love can also help relieve stress.
Laying together cuddled up watching your favorite show/movie is a great way to get away from all the stressful things that may be bringing you down.
Set aside at least one night a week to stay home and cuddle up next to each other and unwind.