4 Simple Tips to Calm Down in Stressful Situations!

At some point in your life, you have probably found yourself literally pulling your hair out. You know, the feeling where you just cannot seem to relax. You feel completely overwhelmed. It is like the walls around you are just caving in. Does that feeling sound familiar? My guest author today is going to share some simple tips to calm down.

Stress – it is the state of emotional or mental tension or strain resulting from very demanding or adverse circumstances that we have all felt at some point in our lives.

When the dishes are piling up, the laundry hamper is overflowing, or the papers are just scattered to infinity and beyond in your office, your stress levels rise.

Not only can clutter add to your stress if you are already feeling stressed about something else, but it can also leave you feeling more stressed out in general. Therefore, leaving you susceptible to becoming easily stressed out over other issues that follow.

What is the statistics on stress levels in America?

A survey done earlier this year found that for the first time in 10 years, Americans’ overall stress level increased between August 2016 and January 2017.

The survey,which was done by the organization Stress in America: Coping with Change, found that two-thirds of Americans were stressed about the future of the country. Of those surveyed, 57 percent cited the political climate at the time as being a “very or somewhat significant” stress source.

On a 10-point scale, ranging from “little or no stress” to “a great deal of stress,” the overall stress level of Americans’ went up from 4.8 to 5.1.

It’s hard to calm down when we’re under so much stress

But, stress is not just caused by political elections and the nature of the country…

Stress can also be a result of:

• Financial problems
• Clutter
• Major life changes
• Relationship difficulties
• Unrealistic expectations

A few ways to relieve stress include exercise, healthier eating habits, and organization.

How does clutter increase stress?

Clutter in the home or office can pose a threat to increased stress levels if left unattended to.

Being surrounded by clutter affects you by:

• Creating a feeling of guilt and embarrassment when others see.
• Making you anxious by giving you the feeling you might never get to the bottom of the clutter.
• Constantly alerting your brain that your work is not done.
• Drawing your attention away from what you should be doing.
• Bombarding your mind with stimuli, causing other activities to take longer.

Clutter only distracts you and increases anxiety, therefore, increasing your stress levels as you neglect other things you should be doing. Kinda hard to calm down and remain calm with so much stress!

4 tips to calm down

In order to effectively complete tasks and remain organized during the process, pacing yourself is key.

Start off with a clean slate

Whether it is your home or office that needs tending to, spend one day just cleaning everything up. It might seem overwhelming at first, but there is no way to overcome the clutter without effectively addressing it.

Prioritize your day

Start each day by making a list of everything you need to get done, then list it in the order or priority. Make a to-do list and check it off as you complete each task. Use printable labels for organizing all your stuff.

Not only will this make sure the important things get done first, you can also incorporate a few, quick clean up sessions throughout the day to ensure you de-clutter as you go rather than waiting until it has all piled up again.

Set healthy limits

Sometimes, de-cluttering can become unhealthy as you spend hours and days doing it, therefore neglecting other responsibilities.

Instead, set a timer for each task. This will ensure you don’t spend too much time on one thing and keep you efficient during the clean-up process.

Less clutter makes it easier to calm down

Find new ways to get things done that involve less clutter. For example, try going paperless as often as possible.

Instead, use digital notepads and other software available on your computer or smartphone when possible. See, how all these simple tips will help you calm down?

Conclusion

Everything in life is about balance – sometimes, you just need to take a step back and evaluate what is the most important at that moment.

If you find yourself feeling stressed regularly and you notice that your home or office seems a little cluttered, it might be time to address it.

Take a step back, evaluate your situation, take a breather, and make a plan.

Now, you have the tools, get out there and get on your way to a less stressful life using good organization skills!

Author Bio:

Annabelle Short is a writer and a seamstress of more than 5 years.
She loves making crafts with her two children, Leo (age 9) and
Michelle (age 11).  She splits her time between London and Los
Angeles and writes for Wunderlabel.

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