It’s easy to get stressed and lose focus in our lives. By following a few daily routines, you can quickly regain focus and obtain reduced stress. So how do you become more centered, focused and calm? Start by following these simple steps each day.
Start the Day with Exercise
Start your day with some type of exercise but choose an exercise you enjoy. For me, it is working out with weights, cycling or walking. It doesn’t have to take long, just 20 minutes of exercise 5 days a week is a great start.
Post-Exercise Meditation
Once you’ve completed 20 minutes of exercise, wind down from it by closing your eyes and relaxing for 10 minutes. When doing this, try to clear your mind of thoughts. Thoughts will creep in and that’s OK, just try to suppress them when they do. Some people enjoy listening to light music in the background and burning a candle. Once you’re done, you’re going to start the day on the right foot: energized and focused.
Make Your Bed
Before leaving for work, make your bed and quickly pick up any clothes that are laying around. By doing this, it eliminates clutter and allows your mind to start the day in a more organized and deliberate way.
Organize Your Day for Reduced Stress
Once you’re at work, spend the first 30 minutes making a list of things you would like to accomplish today. Don’t be overly aggressive with your list and don’t beat yourself up if you don’t accomplish them. Having a targeted list of action items will keep you focused and will reduce stress.
Take Breaks
Throughout the day, take 10-minute breaks to get away from your desk. Simply walk around the office or step outdoors. By walking, it clears your mind and allows you to attack problems in a different way and better solutions become clearer. Try to take at least one 10-minute break in the morning, walk for 10 minutes at lunch and then take another 10-minute break in the afternoon.
Resist Work at Night
If you’ve worked during the day, resist the temptation to continue your work when you get home. To be your best, you must decompress and de-stress at the end of the day. Do something you enjoy. Listen to music, cook, spend a quiet evening with your partner, watch TV or read a book.
End of Day Routine
At the end of the day, just before bed, spend 10 minutes in grateful meditation. Instead of trying to clear your mind, close your eyes and think of things you are grateful for. I am sure you are grateful for living on a beautiful earth, your family, your friends, your co-workers, your job, and your abundance. Let those thankful ideas come to the forefront of your mind. Then end your meditation with a few moments of silent thought. You will feel the stress melt away and will be ready for a great night of sleep with reduced stress.
Conclusion
By just following a few practices, you will find that less than an hour a day can be a huge impact on how you view the world and for reduced stress. The order of the practices is not important. For example, you may be a night owl and cannot wake up in time to exercise first. That’s totally fine, just rearrange the practices to fit your life. You’ll be surprised how much of an impact this can make.
Do you have any practices you’ve put into place that has reduced stress in your life?
About this Blog
Steve and his wife built a software company, sold it and retired early. Steve enjoys blogging about lifestyle freedom, financial independence, and technology. If you like this blog, subscribe here to get an email each time he posts.
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