When was the last time you turned off the phone and had a face to face conversation? For many of us, it has been a long time since we had a meaningful conversation that wasn’t interrupted by a text, call, social media update, or meeting. The stress of a digital world – and a generally overscheduled life – is harming us, making it important to step away from technology to enjoy what life has to offer. The effects of stress on your body can be debilitating.

What Stress Does to Us

Stress is a natural reaction to a threat we feel. How we react to these threats impacts our health in mind, body, and spirit. Stress can:

  • Increase heart rate
  • Increase blood pressure
  • Cause heart attacks
  • Make you more susceptible to illness
  • Tense muscles
  • Cause insomnia, restlessness, and anxiety

Decreasing the stress in your life will help you live a healthier lifestyle.

Tips for a Stress-less Life

I remember I was often stressed out when I was younger and a friend told me to stop and just breathe. I’ve never forgotten that simple tip for leading a stress-less life. Inhale deeply and exhale slowly; it will slow your mind and body so that you can focus on the situation at hand.

Pretend it is 1993 and talk to each other. Visit a friend. Gather the family around the table for a meal and conversation. Turn off the devices and focus on the three dimensional world in front of you. The human connection will revive even the most stressed of spirits.

Wake up each day with an attitude of gratitude. Be thankful for what you have today in this moment. Focusing on the abundance you have rather than any lack of it will calm and focus your mind and relax your body.

Make a list. Handling one task at a time is a lot less daunting than thinking about or trying to handle a number of tasks. Make a list of what you need to do each day, handling each task separately.

Cross off what you accomplish. By the end of the day you will have a DONE list rather than a looming TO DO list.

Here’s to having less stress and more happiness in our lives!