Try these 5 easy steps to ease stress in your life starting today!
I'll admit that feeling overwhelmed is one of my most frequent emotions. Some days it's the never-ending to-do list, other days the laundry pile that keeps growing, or the toys scattered through every room, or the crumbs under the kitchen table that seem to multiply overnight while I sleep.
Running a household, raising little ones, supporting my husband's career, and running a business from home is HARD. I've done it for four years, and although I've picked up plenty of systems and tricks along the way, I still feel completely overwhelmed several times a week.
All that said, here are five things that quickly help me feel calm again.
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5 Ways to Ease Stress
1. Put everything on your to-do list.
Get it all out, friend. Write down everything on your mind, whether it's an idea, a worry, or a task. I use this planner for my daily to-dos, and I love it! The days I forget to write my to-dos down are always the most overwhelming.
2. Tidy the kitchen each night and run the dishwasher, even if it's not full.
I know this sounds backwards, but those extra 30 minutes at night pay off enormously when I wake up to a fresh, clean start. (And the sippy cups get washed rather than buried in the toy chest, where they'd become the next Nickelson household science experiment.)
3. Tidy the main living area before bed.
This usually takes about five minutes, and the clutter turns into a calm space. I've also set up a command center by the door, where we corral papers and other items that would otherwise clutter the house. I follow the one-touch rule for paper that enters our home: the first time I handle it, I decide whether it's trash, a to-do, or something to file, and I deal with it right then.
4. Get a good night's sleep.
My mind insists I should stay up working to cross more items off the list, but my heart knows better. I need to be well rested to tackle the to-do list the next morning with fresh eyes and a fresh cup of coffee. When I follow through with this one, the to-dos fly off the list the next morning.
5. Move your body.
I know, it's obvious, but in the moment I often forget that a little fresh air and stretching can clear my head and help me focus. If I can't leave the house because of napping kids or bad weather, I follow an online workout video; otherwise I bundle up the kiddos and take a walk outside.
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? I'd love to hear your tried-and-true ways of handling stress. Leave a comment and tell me!
