“Affirmations are like prescriptions for certain aspects of yourself you want to change.” – Jerry Frankhauser
Use affirmations
Affirmations can also reduce your stress and redirect your thoughts and feelings to something positive. They affirm the qualities in you that you want to encourage, while thwarting negative thoughts at the same time.
Once you get in the habit of using affirmations every time a negative thought or bad habit presents itself, they automatically redirect you to positive actions, feelings, and decisions.
-
- I am confident that I can handle any challenge effectively.
- I make good decisions.
- I look for the silver lining in every difficulty.
- I can solve any problem.
- I act without delay when I make a decision. I let go of the “what-ifs.”
Affirmations should follow the 3 P’s: Positive, Personal (use the words “I”, “me”, or “my”), and Present Tense (as if you already exhibit this quality).Here are some example affirmations to reduce stress:
- For the best effect, repeat your affirmations several times each day, and also whenever you encounter a negative thought.
- Affirmations are effective in many situations. They can help you conquer specific stressors, so we’ve also talked about affirmations in other sections of this blog.
Simplify your life
A lot of the stress we encounter every day occurs because of our cluttered lifestyles. I fight this one all the time. Between running from one errand to another, skipping meals, and taking care of everyone but ourselves, everything contributes to our stress levels. But when you eliminate the clutter, you can eliminate this stress!
- Learn to say ‘no’. No is a perfectly good answer. Using this answer toa request can literally add hours to your day! Make a decision to only do what you feel is absolutely important. If someone asks you to do something you know you can’t fit in, politely say no.
- Skip some of the parties. For our own sanity, we need to socialize sometimes. However, accepting every invitation that comes along can become overwhelming. Cut down on your social commitments to give you some added peace and quiet.
- Make decisions according to your priorities. When you clarify your priorities and use them to help you make decisions, decision-making becomes virtually stress-free. When you choose the option that most closely aligns with your priorities, you’ll be more confident that you’ve made the right decision.
- De-clutter your house and office. Getting rid of everything you don’t want or need will reduce stress and contribute to a simpler lifestyle. Yes, this will take some time. You’ll notice that things are easier to find, there’s less to clean, and you’ll feel free from some of the limiting trappings of life.
Tags: Mindset, personal success, positive attitude, Stress