10 Golden Rules To Live A Stress-Free Life

1. Accept your fears!
When you accept and face your fears, you're taking one of the most important steps in reducing your level of stress. Fearful beliefs limit our everyday life and influence us in every decision that we make.

So how can you do that? Think about what is limiting you in your life. Where do your negative beliefs lie and are there situations that make you feel uncomfortable and afraid? Instead of ignoring these fears, observe them. Take the time to accept them, and even this small step will help reduce their intensity.

2. Find happiness in every day situations
A simple change in perspective of the things that you see and do everyday will make you feel more happy and at peace. Use all of your five senses to enjoy life. Smell beautiful flowers, and strong coffee, walk or jog in the park, and meet with positive and inspiring friends often. By focusing on these things, we become more thankful and content. 

3. Engage in mindfulness 
Mindfulness is a state of consciousness that allows you to absorb a moment or experience thoughtfully without over-analysing or evaluating it. In this way, we stop depending on external circumstances to determine our own happiness. Our mind becomes clearer and we find more balance, which acts as a source of strength, even during times of crisis. 

By using mindfulness, we:

• use our internal resources
  
• become more balanced and less anxious
  
• stop searching for happiness in external situations 
  
• are able to cope with stress more effectively 
  
• learn to accept things
  
• learn to form friendships while setting appropriate limits
  

4. Implement gratitude in your every day life
Learning how to embrace gratitude is quite an easy task. For example, you could start by writing a gratitude journal every morning, naming 3-5 things that you are thankful for. In this way, we quickly adopt a routine whereby evaluating things more positively, comes naturally, and thus leads to less stress.

5. Meditate 
Have you ever tried to meditate? It is a great exercise that'll help calm your mind and to focus on the present. It is a powerful tool for stress and stress-related issues. 

The positive effects of meditation:

• Emotional stability 
  
• Strengthens our focus, providing clarity
  
• Reduces anxiety
  
• Reduces stress
  
• Strengthens our immune system
  
• Helps with pain and discomfort caused by stress
  
• Increases the production of serotonin (the happy hormone)
  

6. Surround yourself with positive people 
It is said that one is, on average, as happy as the people that they surround themselves with. Which is why it is so important to spend time with people who embrace positivity, and who have goals similar to yours. Adversely, limit or eradicate time spent with those who exude negativity.

7. Engage in regular exercise 
Move as often as your current lifestyle allows. Make small changes, such as taking the stairs as opposed to the elevator or escalator. Better yet, find a physical activity, such as yoga, jogging, or walking, that you enjoy and make it a hobby. Additionally, don't forget to stretch your body after being seated for long periods of time. 

8. Incorporate effective time management 
Try to incorporate the Eisenhower Matrix, a notion that help you prioritize tasks according to urgency and importance. 

9. Ask for help
Everyone has felt overwhelmed at one time or another. And in this situation, it is important that you find the support that you need without feeling embarrassed or ashamed. The truth is, we all need a helping hand from time to time. 

10. Trust in nature
There are several plants and herbs that induce feelings of relaxation and effectively remove stress. For example:
Lavander: soothes the nerves and provides mental balance
Rhodiola rosea: strengthens your stress resistance 
Sage: regulates irregular menstruation 
Melissa: helps prevent and reduce symptoms of depression 
Lady's Mantle: helps with painful menstruation 
Thyme: strengthens the immune system

Together, these herbs work to effectively remove stress and create a feeling of overall balance and well-being. Additionally, these herbs can be found in the Enjoy herbal drops - a natural solution for stress-related conditions, as well as a tonic suitable for chronic pain.

For more information, and to purchase, click here.

I wish you a pleasant, stress-free, and joyful day!

Regards,
Lieve Plasch
www.go4balance.eu