Sometimes, we tend to feel like the whole world is against us or that everyone expects us to have everything in order. At times, these types of expectations and responsibilities result in stress and physical and mental exhaustion.

Anyone who has ever had to be responsible for something has felt the effects of stress, whether work-related, school-related, or just life responsibilities. Stress can present itself in different ways; such as short-term pressures like deadlines, paperwork, tests, and exams, or long-term pressures like financial debts, family responsibilities, and conflict with the people around you. All these pressures and demands cause different stress levels, and sometimes they can cause minor or major physical and mental problems.

Since we can’t stop stressful situations in our lives, there are steps we can do to help us manage our stress levels. Here are a few things that I do to help me with stress:

1. Make a schedule or To-do List

I found that having a schedule or to-do list for daily tasks helps me maintain things especially when I feel overwhelmed I know that I have things planned out so I don’t have to stress about things being all over the place or forgetting to do things.

I have a morning and night routine, which helps me be more productive during the day. My energy levels are high, and I can do what I need to do for each day as I have planned in my schedule. Even though sometimes things pop up unplanned, I can still work around my schedule to accommodate them.

2. Don’t be scared to say No

Many of us find it difficult to say no to people around us, especially to close friends and families because we feel that our refusal to do something will hurt their feelings. But have you thought about yourself in the process? Stretching yourself too hard to the point of stress can cause harm to yourself.

Saying no if you know you can’t do something or will have a hard time doing it helps you and that person try to find a way around the problem so you can find a solution that won’t be at the detriment to your mental and physical health.

3. Things don’t have to be Perfect

Things won’t always be perfect. A lot of time we strive for perfection and and don’t enjoy the process because we think of the end goal and when things don’t go according to plan then it causes our stress levels to rise.

A good strategy would be to strive for progress instead of perfection, by doing this you end up striving to do your best, and even though you won’t always achieve the desired outcome, you can still feel proud of yourself because of the progress you made knowing you did your best.

4. Take care of yourself

People take care of themselves in different ways but one thing we all have in common is that taking a break is good for all of us.

Sometimes it means self-care such as a spa date or grabbing a coffee or short exercises such as a walk to help lift your mood or just take a breath of fresh air and relax.

5. Have Clear Expectations

Having expectations and boundaries helps you and others know what to expect from you. Without voicing your expectations and boundaries you end up overexerting yourself which could lead to stress and exhaustion when doing things.

Stress can happen to anyone due to life responsibilities and the pressures we put on ourselves. What’s important is how we handle stress and protect our mental and physical health.

I hope we can all lead stress-free lives, but if we can’t, then I hope you reduce stress by taking deep breaths, listening to your favorite music, or just relaxing at home and being comfortable until you are ready to face the world again.