5 Easy Daily Habits to Start to Feel Less Stressed

You wake up in the morning and think "another day of this." You feel like you are just going through the motions, trying to get through the day in the hopes that another day will be different.

While you may not be able to immediately change certain aspects about your day such as your job, where you live, needing to take care of someone, etc., you CAN make small changes in your daily life in order to enjoy yourself more. Continue reading to see how.

We often hear "small changes make a big difference," and I couldn't agree more. Making slight tweaks in your day can make your life feel very different. These changes don't even have to take up a lot of your time. I have added these 5 habits to my every-day life and doing so has allowed me to feel more at peace.

1. Practice gratitude

Having a gratitude practice can be as simple as thinking of 3 things you are grateful for and doing that every day. Studies have shown that gratitude can help shift your inner attention away from negative emotions, reduce stress, improve your relationships with others, and have a stronger immune system. You may have a crazy stressful schedule, be going through a difficult time, or have a lot of pressure on you, but shifting your mindset to a more grateful one can help you to feel better as you realize the little things in your life that you do appreciate.

"It's not happiness that brings us gratitude. It's gratitude that brings us happiness." -Anonymous

Some people practice gratitude by writing it down in a journal every day. If you do not have time for that or you think you'll forget to keep doing that, I suggest pairing your gratitude practice with another habit you already do every single day. For example, maybe while you are brushing your teeth you think of 3 things you are grateful for that day. Instead of thinking of everything else you have to do that day, think of gratitude as you brush your teeth. After doing this a few times, you'll instinctively start to think of 3 things as you start to brush your teeth. Think of your gratitude practice as a must-do once you start that other daily habit, such as brushing your teeth. Other ideas of when you can do your gratitude practice include as you shower, when you start to drive to work in the morning before you turn on the radio, as part of saying Grace when you eat dinner with family, or right before you go to bed. Pick 1 habit that you already do every day, preferably in the morning, and pair that with your gratitude practice. By doing so, you are not adding another thing to do in your day because you are already doing that other task, and you'll increase your gratefulness.

While practicing gratitude every day, try to make it as detailed as you can. Examples can include your hot cup of coffee, clean sheets on your bed, your coworker helping you with a task the day before, flowers blooming in your yard or on your commute to work, your cat/dog snuggling you extra that morning, your spouse or kids doing an extra chore to make your life easier, the ability to have so many clothes in your closet that trying to figure out what to wear today is difficult, having a full pantry, etc.

2. Spend at least 5 minutes outside

This one is all about the fresh air and sunshine, even if it doesn't appear to be sunny out. Historically, our bodies and minds are meant to be outside. It wasn't until recent years that we became "programmed" to be inside most of the time. Connecting with nature can greatly reduce stress. There are tons and tons of studies that talk about the benefits of being outside, so I won't get into them here. I have written a blog post previously about some of the benefits and ways you can incorporate nature into your life, which you can read here. Short and sweet: you'll feel so much better if you just get outside for 5 minutes every day. If you're short on time, 5 minutes is not a huge time commitment, but it will be worth it. At some point in your day, think to yourself "have I been outside today for 5 minutes yet?" Set a timer on your phone as a gentle reminder to think about it, or pair it with another habit (as I mentioned above). Maybe as you drive home from work you think about if you've been outside yet. Make this a priority, and you'll have more energy and drive to do the rest of your tasks that day.

3. Prep your breakfast/lunch the night before

If part of your morning routine includes getting your breakfast or lunch together to take to work, consider doing this the night before instead. By having everything read to go in the fridge instead of having to spend time in the morning to put things in separate containers, make a sandwich, build a salad, or put chips in a smaller bag, you'll start the day off at a much calmer pace. Think about it. How many times do you start throwing things together in a hurry, or even skip getting your lunch together because you are running late? This sets the tone for the rest of your day. Hurry, hurry, hurry. And if you spill something, it can ruin your entire day and possibly make you late. You feel defeated. Avoid all of that unnecessary stress by having everything ready to go the night before. In the morning, all you have to do is put your food in your lunchbox and go. You'll be calmer and feel more peaceful leaving your house. You'll start the day on time and in a mind frame that says you can take on the day. Shifting this task to the night before will not take up any more time in your day. It just adds it to your nighttime routine instead of your morning routine. Trust me, it makes a huge difference!

4. Move your body

We all know that exercise is good for our body, but it is also insanely good for our minds! Again, there are lots of studies that prove this, so I will not go over them here. Commit to moving your body a little bit every day. This doesn't have to be an hour of intense cardio. Maybe you do some stretches in the kitchen as your coffee is brewing, or every time you go to the bathroom at work you do some jumping jacks or stretch. Obviously, it is great to schedule a time in your day to dedicate to a walk, yoga, hiking, running, dancing, or whatever you enjoy doing to move your body. The key here is to do something you enjoy doing! If you hate running, don't force yourself to do it or you will quit after a few times. If you love dancing and having fun, check out The Fitness Marshal on YouTube....he is a hilarious dance instructor that makes dance cardio fun!! Try just doing 5 minutes a day of some form of exercise and see how that is. After a while you can increase the amount of time you do.

5. Meditate for 30 seconds

Our minds are constantly being overstimulated in this day-in-age. If you feel like your head is spinning from having too much to do, make it a priority in your day to set aside 30 seconds for you to not have any distractions from anything and to just focus on your breathing. 30 seconds is not very much time in your day, so don't tell me you don't have enough time, or you are too busy! Build this somewhere into your daily routine so it becomes a habit. For example, you could turn your morning alarm off, sit up in bed, and then set a 30 second timer for you to just sit there before getting up or checking your phone for social media alerts. Or you can sit at your dining room table for 30 seconds once you get home from work to collect your thoughts and slow down before moving onto the rest of your to-do list. Not sure how to meditate or it feels intimidating to you? A lot of people are in the same boat. The good news is there's only one way to do it wrong, and that's by not trying. Seriously, just sit there for 30 seconds and resist the urge to grab your phone or turn on the tv. Don't try to block your thoughts. Feel your thoughts and listen to yourself for maybe the first time that day. If you're really stuck, there are apps and free resources only for quick guided meditations. Be on the lookout for a 30 second meditation from me coming out soon!

Adding these 5 habits will make a huge difference

Practicing gratitude, spending 5 minutes outside, prepping your breakfast/lunch the night before, moving your body, and meditating for 30 seconds every day will really help to shift your perspective on things. You'll be calmer, more appreciative, less negative, and have more energy. Try adding one of these 5 tasks to your daily routine tomorrow and see how it goes. Maybe add a second one the next week, and so on. Add these habits slowly and do them deliberately to really make an impact in your life.

For more details on how to do this, follow me on Instagram @palmtreeyogawithsara