10 Ways to Quickly Reduce Stress in Your Life

Most American's have too much stress in their lives. Stress makes day to day living difficult, causes health problems, and can shorten your life span. There are products that are all over the store shelves to alleviate stress. Tea, supplements, and aromatherapy are just a few products that are on the market that are supposed to help relieve stress. Unfortunately, these usually do not work. There are ten small things you can do in your daily life that will reduce stress through your actions. Try these out for a week and you will notice a less stress during the day and a better sleep at night.

1. Small steps

When making changes in your life for less stress, do not over-whelm yourself with big changes. Make small changes one at a time. Overtime, these small changes will add up to the less stress life you want to live.

2. Journal

Keeping a journal sounds like something you did as a teenager. However, it can be very beneficial as an adult. Putting your stresses and worries down on a paper can get them out of your head. Writing them out will make you feel as though you have voiced them and should make you worry about them less.

3. Socialize

Put love and friendships first in your life. Daily life is sometimes scheduled down to the minute. Make sure you schedule time for friends and family just as you would a doctor's appointment. Keeping connections may improve the health of your heart, encourage the release of the stress-relieving hormone oxytocin and keep the health risks of isolation at bay. If you can, try getting a pet. You would be surprised at how much having a pet around can reduce stress.

4. Focus

Instead of spreading yourself thin with multitasking, try to focus on one thing at a time. The faster you get something done, the faster you can take a deep breath and relax.

5. Take a break

If you are feeling very stressed one day. Sit down and relax. Most things can wait 5 minutes while you sit down and center yourself. Do not rush from task to task unless you absolutely have to.

6. Tread softly

When we are stressed we tend to pound the floor with each step. Take the time to make sure that you walk softly even when stressed or upset. Walking softly will take you to a more calm place mentally.

7. Take stock

Make a list of things that bring you joy and another list of things that bring you down. Do this for ten minutes every day over a one week period. Then review your lists and see what you can do to minimize the most stressful item. This can help you take stock of your life.

8. Have gratitude

It is hard to have gratitude and stress at the same time. Take five minutes out of your day to give thanks for all the gifts of your life. Voicing everything that you have been blessed with in life will make leave no room for stress.

9. Love your drive

A lot of people dread the stress of their commute to work. Take calming breaths and look at the drive as a chance to have a little alone time. Getting upset in traffic can set you up for a stressful day.

10. Meditation

This is easy to be skeptical of doing but it does really work. Memorize a three-to-five word phrase that will help clear your mind. "I am strong" is a popular one. Repeat this to yourself when things get rough. Also keep a peaceful picture in your mind. Add deep breaths to this and you can de-stress in no time.

Start mixing these into your daily life and you will be surprised at how much they help. Before long these will become second nature and you will be that much closer to living a stress free lifestyle.