How To Survive In A Stress Filled World

Let`s face it we live in a crazy world and I don`t think any time soon it`s going to get any less crazier, in fact quite the opposite. The world seems to move so quickly that some days it seems to suffocate you so much that you can hardly breathe. With smartphones all around you there`s no way to escape, your every move can be charted and scrutinised. How any `celebrities` manage to stay sane I will never know as they can`t walk more than 10 yards in public without someone wanting to take a selfie with them. 

As humans we need time to breathe, to stop and smell the roses. With this in mind here are a 5 of my own tips on how to stay calm and relaxed within this maelstrom and get to the end of the day without your mind becoming completely frazzled. 

1. Firstly, and I can`t stress how important this particular tip is, learn to say no. Yes it is that simple, if you start to say no when someone asks you to do something you don`t want to do it will give you control over your life once again. It is amazing how much time we spend doing things we get coerced into doing and the stress this puts us through is enormous, plus saying yes when we really want to say no makes us feel powerless and irritable afterwards which does our mental health no good whatsoever. Just say no!
2. Breathing has been at the core of how we control our emotions and stay calm for centuries and in many civilisations, and this is because it works. When you are feeling stressed, or before you go into a situation that you feel is going to be stressful, make yourself comfortable and concentrate on your breathing, breathe out and bring in your stomach as the air is expelled, then breathe in and extend your stomach and feel the air slowly filling up your body. Control your breathing and concentrate on nothing else for at least 5 to 10 minutes and when you have finished you should feel more relaxed and energised.
3. Give yourself something to look forward to every day. When you wake up in the morning think of something that you would really like to do that day at some point, something that you can easily fit into your schedule. Then however bad your day may be there is always light at the end of the tunnel. It may be something really mundane like watching part of a box set you have been meaning to check out, or calling at your favourite fish and chip shop or pub on the way home from work, it doesn`t matter as long as it is something you can look forward to. 
4. Don`t take life too seriously as that way leads to madness!! Learn to laugh at lifes ups and downs, don`t get upset when a car cuts you up on the way into work and when anyone makes a snide comment about you brush it off as if it were a gnat. If you want to win every day of your life you will if you have this attitude as when you have the right mindset you can never lose.
5. Finally look after yourself. The fitter and healthier you are the better your mental state of mind will be and the better you will be able to cope with whatever life throws at you. The healthier you are the more alert and mentally sharp you will be too. Getting in shape should involve eating the right foods as well as exercising each day. Once you start to get fitter and you are eating more fruit and vegetables and nuts and the rest you will start to feel better about yourself, feel more confident and be able to deal more effectively with the stresses and strains of life. That`s not to say you shouldn`t always feel good about yourself, loving yourself is the start for anyone wanting to live a contented and productive life.

There we are, I feel better already for having written this post!! Take care and keep in touch mon braves.