Life can be filled with stress and anxiety, am I right? It is crucial to find an outlet for that stress, otherwise it just builds and builds. Below are a few steps you can take to reducing stress and anxiety and live a more soul-aligned life.
Exercise
One outlet that helps me is exercising! It takes my mind off of everything going on around me and I can just focus on what is right in front of me. I’m not a fan of going to the gym for many reasons, the main one is just that we live very far away from the nearest one. Enter BeachBody on Demand!
This program is absolutely amazing! There are a bunch of different workouts to choose from; beginner to advanced, 20-30 min to 1 hour workouts, cardio to weightlifting and everything in between. It’s also very affordable!
There are challenges to working out at home, it takes discipline. The easiest way is to form a routine that you can stick to. Decide how many days a week and choose which days you will work out. For me, I chose to work out in the morning, 4 days a week. A workout program that provides ½ hour sessions is a perfect length of time so I’m not late for work.
Once you form that routine it will get easier and easier to stick to!
Meditation
I’m sure you have heard the phrase, “Don’t knock it ’till you try it.” Well, that definitely applies here and I promise you will want to try it if you are a skeptic. I was that person once, but I can say without a doubt that taking time to meditate and clear my thoughts has truly made a difference.
Start by taking just 15 minutes out of your day for yourself to meditate. I recommend doing this in the morning for a few reasons. Morning meditations can be used to set your intentions for the day, clear your mind of yesterdays worries, or for a soul-aligning journey.
When I first started morning meditation, I had a hard time clearing my mind. Thoughts and worries kept zipping around and I couldn’t quiet them. If that sounds familiar, I recommend doing a guided meditation. My coach, Heather Allison, provides a shamanic journey for you to dive into (along with other soul-aligning work) that is unlike anything I’ve tried. Highly recommended!
Give it a try! I’d love to hear how morning meditation has helped you.
Listen to Music
Music has a way of freeing the mind from worry. It’s my little ‘escape’ from the real world. If you need a little ‘escape’, find a song you align with at that moment, that you want to play on repeat, and get lost in it. Feel the stress and anxiety melt away.
Whether you choose to listen through headphones or blast it through the speakers for everyone to hear, let it light up your soul.
Get Organized
One cause of stress and anxiety is the feeling of being overwhelmed. The good thing is there is something you can do to reduce that feeling of being overwhelmed. Make a plan and get organized!
First, find the source of what is creating that overwhelmed feeling. Maybe it’s a deadline for work that’s fast approaching or that the house is always messy. Now, create a vision for yourself. What would it feel like to be able to remove that source. Start setting weekly goals, then smaller daily goals that lead you towards reaching that vision.
Journal
Journaling is a great practice for reducing stress and anxiety for many reasons. Use it to set goals and get organized, to ‘voice’ frustrations without saying the words to that person, or just as a way to document your thoughts and aspirations.
Use a traditional paper and pen to journal, or use a digital journal to write down your thoughts. Which ever one you feel most comfortable with, use that one and write away!
I hope these different ways of reducing the stress will help you on your journey.
