Let’s face it one of the biggest challenges facing busy people today is how to fit everything you need to do into a day. From working to make a living and raising a family, to maintaining a household and keeping on top of your daily tasks, there’s almost no relief from the craziness of a hectic lifestyle.
Rather than just give you the same old stuff about setting priorities and being more organized to manage your time and life more effectively, I’m going to give you five simple ways to help eliminate stress, anxiety and clutter from your life.
1. Waste Not, Want Not
We all have the same 24 hours a day at our disposal. The difference is how wisely you use it. Why waste a precious second on something that has no value or meaning in your life? The more you choose to use the time you do have that’s brings you joy and fulfillment, the more satisfying your life will be.
If you’re in a job you hate and it’s sucking the life out of you, then quit it. If you’re in a relationship that is abusive or the passion has died, then get out of there as fast as you can. If you’re health is not 100%, then start loving yourself more and you’ll find you’ll want to take better care of yourself.
By wasting time on things that do not serve you to move closer to your ultimate date with destiny in life then you’ll always feel a lack of meaning or purpose to all that you do. As soon as you switch this around and do only those things that you love, then your time will feel magical.
2. Live Each Moment Fully
What do you think is going to matter most when you’re laying on your deathbed looking back over your life? Will it be how many sales you made at work? Or how clean you kept your house? Or how many things you didn’t get done?
Probably not! Make each moment count as you never know when your last moment will be. Never arrive at the end of the day having left something important undone. Whether that is telling someone you are sorry, or you forgive them for some indiscretion.
Or, whether it’s something you know is important to do and must be done but have been avoiding. Stop putting anything off that is going to help you have a better life in some way. You’ll be so glad you did because it’ll feel like you have lifted a weight off your shoulders.
3. Don’t Forget to Take Time-Out Each Day
No matter how busy or hectic your life gets it’s vital that you give yourself 5, 10, or 20 minutes a day just being with yourself. This time allows you to reflect on your day and do whatever it is that brings you joy or helps you to relax.
Relaxation techniques that progressively relax the muscles of your body while calming your mind are well worth investing time in. Even if you just take time for a short walk, or to sit under a tree and do nothing but relax for a moment, it will be time well invested in yourself.
This is also a great way for you to remind yourself that you are just as important as anything you do.
4. Stop Telling Yourself You Don’t Have Enough Time
The more you affirm what you don’t have, the more you will attract it into your life. One of life’s laws is that what you focus on you get. When you focus on what you don’t have, you will have even less in the future. Instead, start affirming that you have an abundance of time and energy to get everything done that matters.
Does rushing to get places and do things make life feel any better for you? Probably not. You most likely just arrive at your destination feeling either overwhelmed or agitated. Either way, where’s the fun in that?
Instead, take your time doing as many things as you can. Sure, by driving at the speed limit you may get to your destination a few minutes later – but so what! By driving safer and perhaps singing one of your favorite tunes while your driving, you may actually get where you are going and feel great.
Whatever you do, see if you can slow down a bit and enjoy the doing of it. This will help you feel so much better about how you spend you time. Give yourself permission to take longer for some things and watch as the tension melts away.
5. Give Your Watch A Break
Put away your watch for the next seven days in either a cupboard or dresser. I did this for a period of three months and by the end of this time my internal clock had me waking up in the morning, getting to appointments and being where I needed to be in perfect timing.
At first, this may stress you out a little but after seven days you’ll experience a deep sense of freedom at not having to be a clock watcher all the time.
A wise man once said that money may come and go. If you lose your money, you can always make it back, but when you lose a minute, it’s gone forever. To live a life without regret is to know that you have followed the path of your heart and spirit without hesitation.
Don’t waste another moment letting the apparent lack of time be the reason you live a life of stress and anxiety. Stress is the biggest killer on the planet and you have the power to get rid of the majority of your stress just through learning some simple stress relief techniques to enjoy a happier, healthier, relaxed and more productive life.
