Many of us face the day with a formidable list of things which need doing. This is on top of our work or study commitments, and simply thinking about what we have to accomplish can send our already fragile minds into a spin. Here are five simple ways to help ease your stress levels:
1: Plan the night before:
By jotting down a time planner the night before, you will see the small time gaps available to you the following day to complete other tasks, or to take as time to yourself to regroup and gather your momentum. A fifteen minute gap could give you the chance to whip to the post office and finally send that parcel off – or it could be the perfect time for a relaxing cup of tea. Try doing this every evening to really help you plan your time.

2: Think in numbers as opposed to trying to recall items:
How many of us stand at the supermarket door trying to remember which things we need? Rather than trying to recall the ingredients for dinner, instead recall the number of items you need. So, for instance, if you need: chickpeas, tinned tomatoes, rice, wine, and vegetables – simply remember the number five. Learn to use numbers and trust that you’ll remember the individual items when you need to.

3: Tidy up as you go along:
I totally hate housework and resent having to spend valuable spare time doing it. Tidying up as you go along drastically reduces the time you have to spend on tiresome household chores.

4: Give everything a home:
My partner is good at mislaying items such as keys or his reading glasses. So these days everything in my house has a home. It’s a small change but a huge stress buster! Try a little dish by the front door for your wallet, or an extra hook for your keys!

5: Buy greeting cards in bulk:
This simple tip leads to other bulk purchases – for instance, you could buy the stamps in bulk too and food items when they are on promotion. Having a stash of greetings cards can really take away the stress when you remember an important occasion in the nick of time!

In my experience, it’s the small changes – and modifying how we think can truly bring a calmer sense to our addled heads.