Do you find that you get stressed out over the seemingly slightest, little things in life? If you answered yes, then you’re not alone. The good news is, there are things you can do to address the level of stress you experience from even the smallest things in life.
The phrase the straw that broke the camel’s back has a lot of relevance to how we react – it’s often said that if a car breaks down soon after being bought, that’s kind-of OK but if it’s got a perpetual small squeak, that’s definitely not OK. It’s the same with lots of other things in our lives – the smallest provocation can have big consequences.
Here, we’ll cover five important ways to mitigate the impact of small stressors in your daily life, so you can feel more relaxed and enjoy life to the fullest.
5 essential strategies for reducing being stressed out at little things
- Consider potential underlying issues. Feeling triggered by factors that you
consider to be minute or insignificant in your daily life may be an indicator that there is something deeper going on. There may be underlying factors that are heightening your stress levels overall and making you prone to ‘over-react’ to small stressors or annoyances that previously wouldn’t have phased you. So, take the time to dig deeper, and identify major stressors that may be lurking beneath the surface and causing you to increase the impact of small stressors. - Make sure you’re getting enough sleep. This is something that has been shown time and time again to improve stress levels. According to the American Psychological Association, those who get the recommended 7 to 9 hours of sleep experience less stress. So, if you find yourself asking, “How to stop being stressed at the slightest little things,” the answer may be right there in your sleep schedule.
- Try meditation or mindfulness. Meditation and mindfulness are about being present, being aware of your body and mind and applying appropriate breathing exercises to mitigate and control stress. Meditation has been shown to help reduce stress levels when practiced as little as 10 minutes per day. If you’re interested in giving it a try, look into apps like Headspace or Calm to get started.
- Make sure you’re exercising regularly. According to AADA, regular physical activity can help manage stress levels and that includes those small stressors. So, whether it is a 30-minute walk at lunch, a group Zumba on the weekend or a home workout with your kids, try to incorporate exercise into your regular routine.
- Get outside and enjoy nature. Have you gotten outside today? You should. Science Daily contends that a mere 20 minutes spent outside in nature helps to lower stress levels. That’s a big deal. So, make time in your day to get outside and connect with nature. Tackle two stress-reducing strategies at once by meditating or exercising outside, you can double the benefit in half the time.
consider to be minute or insignificant in your daily life may be an indicator that there is something deeper going on. There may be underlying factors that are heightening your stress levels overall and making you prone to ‘over-react’ to small stressors or annoyances that previously wouldn’t have phased you. So, take the time to dig deeper, and identify major stressors that may be lurking beneath the surface and causing you to increase the impact of small stressors.Conclusion
Part of the battle when trying to overcome small stressors is being honest with yourself about the steps you’re taking to mitigate stress in your life. So, as you attempt to figure out how to stop being stressed at the little things in life, make sure you check-in with yourself and reflect on how fully you are implementing these stress-reducing strategies.
