Looking for a new job? Unpaid bills? An increase in financial obligation? Health issues?
Stress.
In Singapore where everything moves so quickly, it is safe to say that we’ve all had a run with being stress.
If you are not careful, the build-up of stress can end up affecting your health, relationships and even your career. Sadly, stress is inevitable. But as they say, it pays to make the best out of every situation.
Therefore, you’ll have to learn how to cope in the midst of the challenges.
Below are 15 ways that will help you to reduce the stress levels in your life and create a mind-set of peace.

1. Have An Attitude Of Gratitude

Grateful people are generally happy people. In spite of all the stressful situations, there is always something to be grateful about.
It’s easier to focus on the negative aspects of your life, but this will only serve to multiply the amount of stress. You should learn to appreciate all the positives in your life, because this tends to create a different feeling of optimism.
An attitude of gratitude is the first step to bringing joy and consequently relieving stress levels.

2. Get Enough Restful Sleep

Sleep-deprived people tend to be stressed, moody, and never give their best output physically or mentally.
Getting quality sleep is more than just sleeping for long hours. It is actually getting full rest during the hours of sleep. If you sleep for 8 hours but toss and turn for the most part of the night, then that is not considered quality sleep.
When you are able to get proper rest at night, you are more mentally prepared to face the day’s challenges, and this automatically reduces the stress levels.

3. Laugh More

As the old adage says, laughter does good like medicine.
It has been said that a human face uses more muscles to make a frown than to make a smile. Laughter is known to reduce inflammation in the arteries and generally give one a healthier heart.
As a way of reducing stress, you can choose to hang out with your group of friends, or even watch a comedy show that will make him or her to laugh heartily. This will definitely lighten the weight of stress.

4. Pray Or Meditate Regularly

Prayer or meditation is a great way of releasing emotional pressure.
You’ll feel refreshed and re-energised after spending quality time in prayer or in positive meditation. You should put in the effort to try and make it part of your daily routine: Allocate a certain amount of time each day for this uplifting exercise.
For these sessions to be useful, it is important for you to look for a quiet spot where the atmosphere is conducive and that you are able to have full concentration.

5. Have A Regular Exercise Routine

Exercise has always been known to be a stress buster. Even a small amount of regular exercise is known to release endorphins into the body. These are “feel-good” hormones that conquer stress naturally.
The key is for one to be consistent in your exercise routine. Even a brisk ten-minute walk on a daily basis will go a long way in relieving some stress.
Not only can you relieve stress, you’ll also increase your fitness levels.

6. Do Breathing Exercises

This has been known to relieve stress significantly when done the right way.
The right procedure is to breathe in deeply and have the chest rise as air fills the lungs. This is held for a few minutes and then exhaled slowly. Breathing exercises are known to slow down the heart rate substantially, reduce blood pressure, and consequently reduce stress.
You should do these exercises on a daily basis to reap the full benefits.

7. De-clutter And Get Organised

Disorganised people are constantly dealing with one crisis after another. This is because they are constantly late for meetings, often misplace important items or documents, and frequently forget appointments.
This alone creates a lot of unnecessary stress. You’ll need to get rid of all the unnecessary clutter that has crowded your life and remain with only the very necessary items.
The next step is to decide to be organised because you can actually choose to be disciplined.

8. Eat Healthy

Healthy food, combined with regular exercise gives you natural energy and mental alertness, enabling you to handle daily tasks more easily, thus reducing stress.
Eating junk food when one is stressed, though tempting,  has the negative effect of giving artificial energy for a short time and later causing a sudden drop in energy levels. This only serves to compound the problem of stress.

9. Be Part Of A Charitable Group

Doing something positive for someone else has the effect of distracting you from your own pressures, and hence giving you  some relief from stress.
It can also make a positive impact on you. Seeing the people you help feel good has the added effect of making you feel good about yourself too.
You can become part of a group that is involved in charitable activities for individuals or the community.

10. Identify Stress Triggers

You cannot avoid stressful situations entirely, but it is possible to avoid what is practically possible.
The key is to prioritise activities and stick with what is important. Not everything is worthy of your attention, and therefore there are some things that will help to reduce stress levels once they are identified and avoided.

11. Talk To Someone

You might not realise this but sharing your troubles with a close friend or family member can greatly relieve you of stress. It is beneficial to talk to someone when pressures of life seem to be overwhelming. You should not be afraid to seek help and advice from someone who is in a position to help.
This could be a close friend, a family member, or even a professional counsellor. This type of sharing could be what is needed to deflate the pressure and bring great relief to you. Indeed, a problem shared is a problem half solved.

12. Confront The Problem

It is always wise to deal with problems head-on. Many times the stress could be caused by trying to avoid dealing with the situation directly. Finding a solution to the problem is a great way to relieve stress because once a solution is found, the situation is no longer considered a crisis.

13. Take A Break

Not everyone will be able to afford to take a long holiday in another country or city.
However, one way to take a break from the stressful situation without spending too much money is by visiting a friend for the weekend. Alternatively, you can have a simple getaway over the weekends, just to unwind and get a much needed break from the stressful situation.
This break serves to renew your strength and to give you fresh courage to continue with life.

14. Get A Hobby

A hobby is something that you eagerly look forward to doing because you enjoy it.
Deliberately allocating time to engage in an activity that you enjoy is a great way of dealing with stress. Hobbies such as listening to music, engaging in sports, and reading inspirational material are all activities that will help relieve stress and give you a more positive outlook on life.

15. Plan A Working Schedule Wisely

You should avoid planning a working schedule which has meetings back to back. There should be breaks in between intensive meetings and if possible, some meetings should be postponed and scheduled for another day.
This removes that stress that arises from having to handle too many issues continuously.
Stress is a universal problem and unavoidable. Therefore, it is important that we be sensitised on how to handle the daily stresses that causes us to suffer both physically and psychologically.

About Lending Bee

In a volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous world, you can count on one thing – your partner in credit, Lending Bee. Just like an industrious bee, we are committed to helping each and every customer access credit – quickly, easily and seamlessly.