Earlier this week Jay talked about some of the little things he did to lower his stress levels. I've been thinking of doing the exact same thing but I am simply not that process oriented. I tend to do things on a whim and often times making a huge list to follow is just not effective for me.
What I've decided to do is select two items per month that I either want to change in my life, or introduce to my life. I think that by focusing 100% on those small elements, I'll be able to adapt. Over time, I hope to keep these new mindsets and then move onto the next.
To help choose some simple elements or mindsets, I did some hunting and found a list of 100 Ways to Reduce Stress. This are exactly the kind of small elements I was looking for. Nothing Earth shattering, but the sum of several small mindset changes, will reduce my stress and most likely make me a happier person.
Some of the points are a little iffy, but most are workable. Here is a sample from the list I am working from:
- Keep a journal
- Practice a smile
- Remember that there are always options
- Develop a support system
- Quit trying to "fix" people
- Get enough sleep
- Listen more
- Praise others
- Stop counting things
If you want to make some small changes in your life, you can checkout the rest of the list here: 100 Ways to Reduce Stress