We live in the information age. I would even go so far as to say the age of hyper-information. You are constantly connected wherever you are. With the arrival of 5G, the situation may even get worse. You will hardly spend a minute of your time away from the Internet.
This abundance of information due to technological advances is not initially a bad thing, but it is becoming one as we find it difficult to limit ourselves and use technology to our advantage.
Instead, we suffer by being a slave to our smartphones and the Internet. The obvious direct consequence is that a majority of people feel much more stressed today than they did in the past.
All the information you are confronted with increases your stress and anxiety, which prevents you from leading a more peaceful life and achieving your biggest goals. With concentration hard to come by, your productivity is obviously reduced.
If you want to break out of this vicious cycle, I think you should consider the following 6 strategies. They will help you regain control over your stress.
Identify your sources of stress
The first step in solving a problem is always to clearly identify the cause or causes. With stress, it's the same thing. Identifying the sources of stress in your daily life is the initial starting point.
It could be too much information, particular people, situations, or certain things you have to do at work.
Once you have identified your sources of stress, you will be able to manage them better. When it comes to people, you can decide to remove them from your life. If this is not possible, you will need to prepare for their attacks so that they affect you less.
This is just one example, but for each source of stress you identify, you can find solutions to put in place to protect yourself as best as possible.
Stop procrastinating
Much has already been written about procrastination. Deep down, you know very well if you are a procrastinator or not. If you are, I'm sure you suffer from it. This vicious circle in which you are trapped causes you daily stress.
You must do everything you can to stop your procrastination.
The key is to find the deeper goals that drive you in your life. Once you find those goals that give meaning to your life, you will find that it will be easier to accomplish the tasks you need to do. That procrastination habit will disappear on its own.
Your stress will also drop by itself.
Find the right balance to protect your time
Time is the scarcest resource we have at our disposal on earth. So you need to make good use of it. This means finding ways to protect your time from unwanted outside elements.
You can't live in your own bubble all the time, but you need to set aside some time for yourself to find the right balance.
This will help you reduce stress. Focus on what you can control, and accept that there are many things in your life that you cannot control. That's just the way it is, and it's the same for everyone.
Avoid the easy way out
In the face of stress, many people will adopt negative behaviors: eating more, spending more, drinking alcohol, or even using illicit substances.
Obviously, you must avoid succumbing to these easy solutions.
Whatever stress you have, you can handle it. At the moment, you may doubt it, but you must keep in mind that good weather always comes after bad. As the Persian proverb says: This too shall pass.
So don't sink into negativity to escape your stress. Face it bravely. You'll beat it in the end, you can be sure of that.
Don't fall into isolation
Many people tend to withdraw when they are under a lot of stress. This is obviously a mistake to avoid. Easier said than done as always.
However, you should keep in mind that when you are feeling stressed and anxious, there is no shame in getting closer to your loved ones rather than falling into isolation which will only cause you to sink further.
Friends are there for the good times, but it's in the bad times that they will give you the most support. The reverse is true: you should also always be there to help loved ones who are in difficult situations.
Take care of your body for a healthy mind
There is a strong connection between your mind and your body. An unhealthy body will have negative effects on the mind. You must therefore put all the chances on your side by taking care of your body.
Exercise and eat healthy to last longer. Life is a marathon, not a sprint. A healthy body will better protect your mind from stress and anxiety.
Final Thoughts
Eliminating all sources of stress from your life is a pipe dream. You will never be able to do that. However, you can apply certain strategies to learn how to better manage these sources of stress. You have all the tools you need to do this.
The day you succeed in making your stress an ally rather than an enemy, you will take your life to the next level. You will then be able to reach your goals while leading a fulfilling and happy life.