Times have changed and life is getting faster. Living life on the fast track and being on the edge of the seat continuously has its ramifications on the physical and mental health quotients of people. Stress manifests itself in different forms; disturbing sleep, distorting routines and pushing people towards unhealthy habits. To make matters worse, stress does not go away on its own and rather forms into a vicious cycle that only gets more difficult to break away with the passage of time and people find themselves slipping silently into a quagmire. Is there anything that can be done to eliminate stress?

The truth be told, it is not possible nor desirable to do away with stress all together. Stress levels, when within the human endurance levels raise the bar of people’s performances at work and at home and acts as a driving factor. Yet, stress beyond the threshold point of that, which humans can endure needs to be dealt with appropriately. These best practices can contain stress levels to bearable limits and enable people to get their lives back on track.

Set a Routine

People set routines but fail to put them into practice. This happens because of wrong prioritization. Sending emails, engaging in conversations with the boss and attending client meetings cannot be the purposes of human existence. These can be the means. Incorporating “me time” in the routine sets the tone to ideal routine making. Save time for meals, sleep and exercise. The world can wait for everything else.

Streamline Task Scheduling

When people wake up from sleep, they do not feel energized from the word “go.” Psychologists believe that alertness arouses slowly as the day passes. Streamline tasks into those that require creativity and those that call for alertness. First attempt tasks that require creativity and then move on to tasks that call for alertness. Browse through the list of productivity apps for your smartphone and choose the one that fits the bill.

Practice Mindfulness

How often do people think of family at work, of the boss at home and of both in a state of sleep? Be mindful of the space and time. Focus on the present. When at work, be mindful of the office space and the characters around. Watch out for the clock and manoeuvre work speed accordingly. When at home, be mindful of the home space and do everything that it takes to preserve the calm and composure that makes a house a home. Again, look at the clock but do stuff for family not for office and business.

Stop Smoking

There are people that believe smoking different types of cigarettes can be stress busters. There could be nothing more contrary to the truth that smoking cigarettes with high levels of toxins and carcinogens like nicotine add to stress levels and kills. It is advisable to drop the habit of smoking and switch to comparatively safer options like e-cigs or nicotine gums. An e-cig allows smokers to inhale vapor and decide on the quantum of nicotine intake to gradually reduce it to zero.

Give Up the Booze

Drowning the self in booze is not the solution to all sources of stress in one’s life. Alcohol consumption leads to liver problems, increases the risks of heart attacks and even damages the nervous system. More over drinking in response to stress at home thoroughly demoralizes family and especially children. Set healthy precedents and fall back on the family as a source of strength. There is nothing more wonderful in this world than spending quality time at home with family.

Cut Back on Eating Sugars

It is important to have sweetness in life, not necessarily in the tea cup. Generous doses of sugar in the tea cup steadily push us towards ailments like diabetes. When people are stressed out they crave for more sugar content in food and beverages, not knowing the extent of damage it does. Replace artificial sugars like chocolates with natural sugars like fruits for a first change. Second, learn to eat for health, not taste.

Know the Nutritional Content of Food Items

It may not be possible to visit a doctor or a nutritionist on a routine basis. The least that people can do is to know the content of the food that they eat. Search for the nutritional content and calorific value of food before eating. Know the stuff inside out before it gets the permission to enter the digestive system. Track the energy requirement of the body to the calorific value of the food and weed out the food stuffs that bring the excess calories.

Exercise Regularly with Concentration

Exercising regularly is not a fashion fad. It is a necessity to beat stress. An hour of exercise daily consisting of a light warm-u, followed by cardio-vascular and strength training can release toxins and bring better sleep at night. The best way to sleep peacefully at night is to burn the calories and release excess energy. A piece of advisory is to exercise with concentration. Synchronize the mind and body and do away with the mobile, music and chatting with friends. Focus hard and enjoy breaking into sweat.

Add More Green Veggies to the Platter

Food matters. There are specific food items that trigger high levels of stress hormone secretion in the human body and increase chances of heart attacks, cerebral strokes and diabetes. Add more green vegies to the platter. Green vegies are easy to digest and vital sources of vitamins and fibre. While it may take some time to get accustomed to new tastes, it is always in the best interest of health.

Switch off Electronic Gadgets One Hour Before Sleep

Many people have a habit of starting their day with a check of emails, phone messages and missed calls. While this enables them prioritize the agenda for the day, it makes no sense to be using electronic gadgets at night. Switch off all electronic gadgets one hour before going to sleep. Every piece of news and new information interrupts thought patterns and increases stress levels. Switching off gadgets one hour before sleep reduces mental alertness and stress levels, easing us into sleep.

Identify What Causes Your Stress

The path to a healthy life begins and ends with lifestyle management. From the habits that people form, the food that they eat and the way they use their time, all of them have to fall in place to reduce stress to optimum levels.