Tips on Slowing Down when Life Tries to Stress You Out

In todays society we are more prone to stress related illnesses then ever before. Deadlines have become more urgent, the cost of living has risen by over 300% in some cases in the last 5 Years, but wages have hardly shown any increase. Everything is computerized, technorized, super sized and overwrought. Needless to say, we have slowly but surely given our-self over to self-destruction.
With so little time and so much to do, it is a surprise that we no longer know how to take a deep breath, kick back and just enjoy life and nature as it was meant to be?

If you no longer know if you are coming or going, which side is up and which is down, then it is time for you to switch from the fast lane into the slower lane. Take a mental break from the rat race we call life and just permit your-self to enjoy a few moments of relaxation and reprieve.

So how do you slow down? I am convinced that most of us have no clue what it means to slow down anymore. If we are not rushing from one end of the day to the next we feel guilty or believe we have forgotten something. Perhaps we were selfish. Perhaps we just didn't give it our all. If you are this type of personality then completely slowing down is not an option for you. What you can do however is use the following tips.

Instead of making a to do list, make a got done list.
The first thing we need to teach you is that even if you don't do everything on your list, you will have gotten a lot done regardless. If you feel like you haven't achieved enough all day, sit down over a nice cup of tea or a glass of wine at night, put your feet up and make a : What I got done list. At the end of your list you will feel more relaxed and be amazed just how much you did get done all day long.

Make getting a personal 30 minutes a priority.
Give yourself 30 minutes a day to with whatever you want. If you want to read a good book goes right ahead. Feel like watching your favorite show? Want to take a nice leisurely walk in the park? No matter how you want to spend your 30 minutes, you get to do it. Can't find the time you say. Yes you can, even if you have to get up 30 minutes earlier. You are so good at making time for everything else, make your 30 minutes a priority and you will find the time for sure.

Subtract instead of add.
Sounds strange? Not at all, here is the concept behind the statement. We all want more, more and did I mention more. By taking a good look at our life and figuring out what we really need and want in it, you may find that you are already overloaded with stuff. If you want to add another thing you have to make space for it first. Do you really need the 3^rd Car? Do you really need a bigger house? What about the 50^th copy of your favorite movie? Sometimes we get so tied up in our stuff that we work just to add more things we have no time to use. Subtract from your wish list and enjoy what you already have. Less bills equals more time. The less we have to pay, the fewer hours we have to work, giving us extra time to enjoy each other and what we own.

Make your house a home again.
These days we don't take pride in our surroundings anymore. We are so busy that making our house a home is the least important thing on our list, when it should be right up there with being a good partner and parent (where it applies). When you come back to your lodgings after a long day, you will find yourself winding down if you come into a comfortable and relaxed atmosphere instead of just another building.

Give some of those projects to someone else.

Believe it or not, you are not the only one that is qualified to handle simple jobs. If you are constantly overloaded and haven't seen the top of your desk in weeks, it is time to give some of those projects over to someone else.

Get rid of some of the technology and do a few things by hand.
If you are his or her royal highness of microwave oven, then maybe you should decide to cook a real meal from scratch for once. Don't know how to cook? Simple get a few good cookbooks and learn. By cooking a meal from beginning to end you will be forced to slow down a little. Besides, who doesn't enjoy the aromas of cooking around the house?

Build something natural, like a garden.
Even if you don't have a garden available you can still potter around in pots or small areas. Where there is a will, there is a way. There is something very satisfying about getting down and dirty and watching something you planted grow is fun as well.

Running yourself insane isn't worth it. Take some time out and enjoy your life again. Your health will thank you.