It doesn’t matter how well prepared you are, sometimes it just seems like the world is against you. You sleep through your alarm, the shower runs cold, traffic is bad, work is demanding and you don’t know what to do. It’s very easy to let stress get the better of you in these situations but by forming a few good habits such as getting some extra sleep, making time for breakfast and organising yourself more efficiently then you might just make it out the other side!
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#1 – Have an early night when you can
There’s a lot that we don’t know about sleep, but what we do know is that it is the time when your body can finally rejuvenate and repair itself. A lack of sleep will make you irritable, sluggish and worst of all unproductive. If you have an important day ahead of you then you should get an early night so you’re in good form the following morning.
#2 – Make time for a good breakfast
If you already know that you are in for a particularly difficult day then it’s important that you fuel up and give your body enough energy to get you through. Additionally, research suggests that a regular breakfast can prevent obesity, diabetes and heart disease.
#3 – Plan your day
Writing down all the things that you need to get done in your day can go a long way towards providing a feeling of self control when you are in a stressful situation. Make a list of what jobs you need to do and if that list looks overwhelming then try breaking them down by how high or low a priority they really are.
#4 – Cut the caffeine
While caffeine can help you to stay alert and to concentrate for a short time, it can also have some nasty side effects such as nausea, fatigue and depression which are the last things you need on an important day. Reduce your caffeine consumption and drink more water to survive the day from hell.
#5 – Shake it off
Your body and your mind are connected and negative emotions such as stress can leave your whole body feeling sore, tight and painful. Do your best to keep your body active through the day, whether it’s going for a long walk on your lunch break, moving around the office or simply just taking the time to stretch your arms and legs and roll your shoulders round.
#6 – Don’t skip lunch
It might seem like a good idea at the time but if you skip lunch then you are bound to be counting the clock for the last portion of your day. Skipping lunch also means low blood sugar, which will give your energy levels a real kicking. It’s much better to take the time to eat something and to come back ready for action.
#7– Focus on one task at a time
You might think that you can answer an email and make a telephone to two different people at once but research suggests that productivity is increased massively when sticking to just one task alone.
#8 – Tomorrow is another day
One of the most important things to remember when everything is going wrong is that you are not superman. You might be able to get a good portion of things on your to-do list done but some days you just have to accept that it might be better to try again another day.
For more information on reducing stress in your day to day life , see our guide ’20 proven ways to wind down and relax’.
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