Between the demands of our jobs, the increasing need to stay connected all day long, raising a family while working full-time, and chronic lack of sleep and exercise, most people say they feel stressed out more often than they wish they could admit. But when you add that stress with a touch of chronic exhaustion and also lack of movement, some pretty dangerous consequences arise. So let’s look at some side effects of stress you may be experiencing and what you can do about it.
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/272256739964089038/What if I told you that embracing the minimalist lifestyle could reduce stress in your life? Allow you to live happier? Would you be interested? Of course you would, who wouldn't? But before we go any further, let's define what minimalism is.
What is minimalism?
Minimalism is the practice of removing all that you do not need in order to live a more fulfilling life. It's about reducing stress and living happier.
The idea of minimalism is to focus on what's important and remove everything else. It’s a lifestyle that becomes a way of life, not just something you do because it looks cool or trendy.
Minimalism has been around for centuries, but it’s experiencing a resurgence in popularity. It first showed up as the way of life that was designed to help people live simpler lives.
There are many benefits to living a minimalist lifestyle. For one, it will help you manage your time better and take control of your finances. The less clutter that you have, the easier it is to find what you need.
Unlike the old way of living that focused on acquiring as much as possible, minimalism is about reducing stress and enjoying life’s little moments more. It’s about living and not just existing.
Stress kills
We live in a stressful world. We are constantly bombarded by problems, demands and difficult people that can start to wear on us. Stress is the physical feeling of being overwhelmed with worries or other things that are emotionally distressing. Stress can cause a range of health problems, from mild to severe.
The myriad of health problems that stress can cause range from joint pain and body aches to more serious issues, such as autoimmune diseases and heart disease. Not to mention all of the less serious but still annoying problems, like acne.
Factors that cause stress are often categorized as either short-term or long-term types. Short term factors often include work, school and personal relationships. Long term factors often include money troubles or trouble with the law.
How to reduce stress to live happier
Stress is an inevitable part of life. It can be caused by work, family, school or even personal problems. However, too often it takes over and destroys us from the inside out. “Stress kills” is not just a phrase, it's actually true. Stress can cause many different problems including heart disease, high blood pressure and even depression.
The number one way to do this is to simplify your life. By simplifying, you'll be able to live more happily and less stressed. You won't be stuck in the constant whirlwind of the rat race we've come to know as ‘normal' life.
The modern world has made it difficult to live a natural life, where our needs are fulfilled by simply living. However, there is hope for us yet! Minimalism is the new anti-stress trend that can help many people, including children, live happier! Not only is it the new trend, but it's the best way to live a productive, stress free life.
Minimalism reduces stress
Minimalism reduces stress, and, in doing so, helps people live happier lives. One of the most common causes of stress is overworking oneself.
Minimalists will often find that they are more productive because they are living a life that is not overfilled with distractions. They also find themselves more relaxed and less likely to feel stressed or anxious, as there is no pressure of trying to keep up with the latest trends or being able to afford a lifestyle they can't really afford.
Tips for minimalism
Minimalism reduces stress by making people more mindful about their belongings and surroundings. It is a way of living that seeks to minimize the distractions and clutter in one's life, as well as one's material possessions.
Minimalists don't typically wear a lot of clothes (capsule wardrobe), they have few, well thought out decorations in their home and office spaces, and they try not to have lots of books or anything else lying around.
Minimalists use their core values to define what they need. They only surround themselves with things that are necessary for their life, not all the extras. You don't need to ‘Keep up with the Jones'.
People who practice minimalism will tell you it's a lot easier to live your life when you don't have to worry about all the things cluttering up your living spaces.
Stay digitally organized and clutter free
Staying digitally organized and clutter free helps reduce stress. By keeping all of your devices, papers, files in one place you are able to easily find the information you need when needed. Staying clutter free is also a great way to cut stress by not having any distractions in your work area.
Keeping your digital presence clutter free removes yet another source of stress from your life. Cleaning up your inbox and social media accounts is part of this step.
Four tips on how minimalism can help lower work stress
Declutter your workspace
A cluttered workspace invites stress. It's easy to get lost among the piles of paper, stacks of books, and random electronics. Items on a cluttered desk are typically not within arm's reach, which means they need to be hunted down, often causing more stress. A cluttered workspace also means you need to spend more time organizing and cleaning it up in order for your brain to function efficiently.
Set priorities and make some hard decisions
One of the best ways to stave off stress is by letting go. If you're feeling overwhelmed, set priorities and make some hard decisions about what's worth keeping and what's not.
Use constraints
Limit the amount of time on a project or task and complete it. Do not take on more than you can easily finish.
Handle only the tasks that need to be done at any given moment, or things will pile up and become overwhelming very quickly. You may feel like you're not getting much done, but this is because you are only focusing on the tasks that need to be completed.
There will always be more work for us to do. You can always come back to the other tasks later, after you have finished what needs to be done right now. Do not let people guilt-trip you into doing more than your share.
Cut out distractions.
Stop checking your phone, watching tv, or doing other leisure activities when you should be working. It's easy to get distracted by these things and lose track of time because they are so much more stimulating to your brain.
Try an online co-working program, like FocusMate, or a Zoom co-working call. These will have set time frames and you choose specific tasks to complete during the sessions.
Minimalism kills stress
There are multiple ways to reduce stress and live a happier life. Minimalism is one of the most effective because you get rid of your distractions, which allow you to focus on what's important to you.
It removes the ‘competition‘ in life, which allows you to live the way you want; not the way others think you should. When you remove the clutter from your life, you'll find that it's easier to be more productive. You'll find that you're more creative and will have a greater sense of control in your life.
While stress kills, minimalism can help you reduce stress and live happier. That's all we really want in the end, to live our best lives. Try minimalism!