Reflection – As I Let Go Of Perfectionism, I Feel The Burden Lifted From My Shoulders

As I let go of perfectionism,  I   feel  a heavy burden lifted  from my shoulders.

I release the thought  that I must do everything  without a single error or misstep. No one  is perfect and  striving to be superhuman only  brings stress and  disappointment. As the thought dissipates,  so, too, do the pressure  and stress I had put upon  myself.

I can do an excellent job in my work without requiring that every project be absolutely  perfect. When I think about it, I realize that any project, no matter how good, can always be improved  upon  in some way. So the pursuit of perfection  is insatiable.

I can receive wonderful  results in other areas of my life without having to be perfect.

Spending  time with my spouse  and children brings all of us joy. I do  not have to be perfect to love  and  be loved. My family members  do not have to be perfect for me to love them. We love each other because  of who we are, faults and all.

Wouldn’t life be boring if everyone  were perfect? Our unique  qualities bring variety and excitement to life. In the same way, wouldn’t I be boring if I were perfect? I see now that being imperfect is more
than just fine. It is very good!

Striving to be flawless is counterproductive to living  a fulfilling life. Why spend  time working toward an impossible  goal when I could be using that same time to achieve goals that are real?

Rather than adding to my stress with impossible  goals, I choose  to fill my life with gratitude,  peace,  and happiness.

Today, I choose  to be imperfect! I set achievable  goals that I know I can accomplish  and I feel great about them. I feel free to accomplish  my goals now that the burden  of perfectionism has been lifted.

Self-Reflection Questions:

1. Do I require  perfectionism from others or myself? Why?
2. Do I feel I deserve  to be loved, even though  I’m imperfect?
3. What are my goals today? Can I achieve them without being perfect?

Stress Free Living – Organizational Skills for the Unorganized

It’s difficult if not impossible to live stress free if your not organized.  Some people lack organization skills in  only a few areas of their life while others are unganized in almost every aspect.    Sifting through the chaos could seem like an insurmountable task, but it doesn’t have to be this way!

The key is to evaluate your situation and make small steps toward an organized life. Don’t try to change all at once or you could end up just adding to the chaos.

Here are some tips and tricks to follow in order to get organized:

1. Have a Place for Everything. There are certain items that you use nearly every day. Make sure that these items have a permanent place in your home. Put your keys on a key holder near the door or your wallet in your desk draw. When your things are put away in their proper place, you’re not only organized, but you’ll save time as well.

2. Make a List. When you have tasks to complete, make a list of everything you need to do in order to reach completion. Writing it down will help you to visualize what needs to get done. Lists also insure that you don’t forget to do anything.

•  You can also separate your lists into long-term and short-term categories. The short-term list might be items you need to complete today, while the long-term sheet is your monthly or yearly goals.

3. Start Small. If there are many aspects of your life that you’re trying to get organized, start with the small pieces first. For instance, if your home is unorganized, start with one room – like the kitchen. Give yourself a timeline to complete kitchen organization, and then expand yourself to other rooms once you complete that task.

4. Find a System That Works And Stick To It. There are many different organizational methods that you can choose to implement, but the most important element is to use it consistently. Make sure you understand it and follow through.

•  For example, there are different ways you can organize your bookshelf. You can order all books by author. You can order all books by topic. You can order by topic and author. Once you choose a system, all you need to worry about is following through.

5. Get Rid of Clutter. If you find your life is full of clutter, it’s time to get rid of the junk. Maybe it’s time to finally go through all the stacked boxes in your garage to make more room. When you’re going through your clutter, decide immediately whether or not you’ve used the item in the past couple years. If you haven’t, consider selling it or giving it away to charity.

•  Always remember that your first instincts are often right. If your first instinct is to get rid of something, don’t over think it. You could end up keeping something that sticks around for another couple years, unused!

6. Sort Your Mail. This is a simple one that can help you greatly. Your mail can stack up fast. As soon as you get it, sort it. Throw out the junk mail and shred the documents you don’t need that might contain personal information. Take care of your bills right away, so you don’t have to worry about it later.

7. Go Paperless. In this digital age, it’s popular to cut out the paper to save yourself some organizational headaches and save the environment. When companies bill you, there is usually an option to go paperless. Use this option and start managing your billing statements online.

Don’t Get Overwhelmed

Of course there are many things you can do to get yourself organized. Try to make a positive step forward each day even if it’s something small. You’ll soon find that your life is becoming more manageable and you’ll feel a great deal of satisfaction!

In A Rut? Then Stop Settling And Start Sizzling

Ok you’re trying to find your way to live a stress free life or at least reduce your stress to a dull roar.  But, it looks like you’re stuck in a rut. Are you bored with your life and the same routine day after day? Of course you can’t be happy like this!

There’s an exciting world out there with a lot to offer. Deep down you know you want to get out and take a big bite of it (and not let it take a big bite out of your).  Sure, it may be a bit overwhelming, and even scary at times, but you can’t let your life just pass you by.  Personally I let a lot of years pass me by – but no more.  It’s never to late to start sizzling.

It’s time to live those dreams, take a leap of faith, and get out of your comfort zone! But how do you get started?

Read on for some valuable tips and suggestions to help you be all you can be, now and always:

1. Decide what you want to do. Put your fears aside and step outside of your comfort zone. If you could do anything without fear, money, or time being an issue, what would you choose?

• Make a list of everything you would like to accomplish someday. It doesn’t matter how crazy or outrageous you may think it is, just write it down.
 
• It also doesn’t matter if your list has three or thirty-three things listed. Just search your heart and your mind and write down what you would really like to do.

2. Faith. It’s important to have faith to see your journey until the end, yet this may be one of the hardest qualities to develop. Remember how it feels to be stuck where you are with no excitement and no real purpose. You know things can be better than they are now, but how?

• All you need to do is believe in yourself. You know that countless people before you have lived their dreams, so why not you? What makes them so different?

• There really is no difference between you and others, except for the belief in the possibility for great success. You can be just like they are; you just have to believe you can do it!

3. Don’t keep it a secret. If you’re ashamed of how you’re feeling, you shouldn’t be. Many people find themselves in the same predicament. The only thing that should embarrass you is if you intentionally decide to stay in that rut! Do yourself a big favor and open up to someone you trust.
 
• Whether that’s a parent, spouse, or best friend, tell them that you’re ready to make a change in your life and they’ll be able support you throughout your journey. They’ll encourage you on the good days and cry with you on the bad days.

• Most importantly, they’ll be there to support you throughout it all. It’s just what you need to achieve great success!

4. Take the first step. It’s time to take that first leap of faith. As much as you want to step outside the box and get out of this rut, nothing will happen without taking that first big step.

• No matter how frightening you may be, you need to focus on the big picture and the pot of gold at the end of that rainbow. Muster up all the encouragement and support you can find and just do it. Once the first step is accomplished, it gets easier!

• You deserve to be the best that you can possibly be, and deep down inside you know this. You’ll be so glad you took action – and you’ll be so proud of yourself when you celebrate at the finish line!

No one enjoys being in a rut and just going through the motions of life. Don’t let your fears hold you back. After all, this is a wonderful world that you deserve to enjoy to the fullest!

Go out and experience everything life has to offer. Take that first leap of faith and you’ll never look back again!

Developing Your Inner and Outer Strengths

Stress free living is all about finding your strengths.  Everyone has unique talents and strengths, but whether you’ve discovered and actively developed them is the real question! Maybe you have been told that you’re good at something, but your let your skills go untapped while waiting for the confidence and courage activate.  You may be in for a long wait.

There are even some people whose self-esteem is suffering to the point that they truly believe they don’t possess any talents at all! If this is you, please believe that your talents are there, just waiting to be revealed to you!

These tried and true strategies will help you develop your strengths to their full potential:

1. Research. Perhaps you think that you’re strong in one area, but you aren’t completely sure. This is where you need to look into things that interest you or that you believe you might be good at. See what resources are available and what it would take to make the commitment to strengthen your strengths.

2. Patience. Developing your strengths to their full potential won’t occur overnight. To fully develop a talent, you must be patient. Patience is not easy and many of us tend to struggle with it. But if you can be patient, you’ll definitely reap the benefits at the end of the process.

• A useful way to think of developing your talents is to consider it as a journey. It may take a while, but you’ll learn a lot along the way.

• You’ll make mistakes and celebrate milestones, and by the time you’re done, your strength will be fully developed to the peak of your abilities.

3. Set goals. People are more successful when they set goals. Write down what you’d like to accomplish and what date you’d like to achieve this by. Remember to be realistic and review your goals frequently to keep yourself on track.

• Post your goals in places where you’ll see them throughout the day. The refrigerator, bathroom mirror, and your computer monitor are a few ideas. This will not only keep you on track, but it’ll also motivate you to reach these goals as quickly as possible.

4. Believe you can do it. Confidence can be one of your greatest strengths and assets. When trying to improve yourself in any capacity, if you truly believe that you’re able to accomplish anything, you’ve won half the battle.

• The battle with your mind is often greater than any challenge you face in reality.

• You may have tough days when you’re unsure of yourself, but as long as you get back on track quickly, you’ll build momentum.  Remember, you can do this!

Final Thoughts on Developing Your Strengths

Strengthening your strengths may be a daunting and overwhelming journey at times. And, yes, it will take some work. But everything worth anything involves hard work!

It’s important to focus on the big picture and remember the rewards you’ll enjoy once this process is over. Also, ensure that you have the unwavering belief that you can accomplish anything you set your mind to.  By possessing these two attributes, you’ll be on the road to success in no time!

Stress Free Living – Top 9 Ways to Beat Stress

Stress is a common part of life. However, that does not mean that we should just accept it and let it roll over us! Not at all; there are many things that you can do to get rid of stress whenever it occurs so that you stay focused on leading a healthy and happy life.

Easy Steps to Getting Rid of Stress

One: Be less busy!
In general, people take on a lot more than they can handle. There are various reasons for this. For one, you may not realize just how much you can and cannot do or you may have underestimated the time allotted for certain tasks. It can also be that you find it hard to say no to certain things especially if you think that saying ‘no’ means that you’re admitting a certain level of incapability.

So sit down and make a list of everything you are involved with and see which ones you can cut out. For instance, to which clubs do you belong? Are you really an active member or are you really interested in the group? If not, then drop it!

Two: De-clutter.
When you are in an unorganized environment, you’re mental state tends to be disorganized, causing a high level of stress. Here’s a simple exercise: sit down in your living room or bedroom or whatever room you like. Look around and see which items can be thrown or at least boxed up. Anything you haven’t used or touched in 2 months should go!

Apply the same process in other rooms of your home and even at work. You’ll soon realize that an organized and clean home and workspace brings clarity and focus to your mind, avoiding any stressful situations.

Three: Budget your finances wisely.
One of the biggest stressors in life is the lack of money. One way to beat this issue is to learn to budget your resources better. You’ll be surprised at how much you can save by simply cutting out certain items. For instance, do you really need that $3 latte run every morning? Don’t be afraid to seek professional help too (e.g., financial planner) if you really want to turn around your finances.

Four: Exercise!
Apart from losing excess weight, exercising also helps you get rid of stress. Endorphins are released when you work out and this gives you a feeling of well-being.

Five: Eat right.
We consume too many chemically-manufactured food items these days and as they say “you are what you eat”. So try to go back to basics and opt for organically grown and produced items. Even if you don’t do this, simply cooking and eating at home can cut oil and salt intake tremendously! So eat well and your body and mind will follow.

Six: Say NO at work.
If you find yourself always running after deadlines and feeling completely swamped all the time with work, learn to say NO. Take good stock of your day-to-day work activities and see which ones you can cut out. And after you do this, see to it that you don’t take on anything extra if you can help it!

Seven: Enjoy what you have.
Enjoy what you do have. In our society you’ve probably learned somewhere along the way that more is better. Well, it’s not.
When you learn to be content with what you have right now, you’ll find much more peace within yourself

Eight: Talk to someone.
The benefits of having someone listen to you are tremendous! So go and reach out to someone and just try to get things off your chest. You’ll feel relieved and happy you did.

Nine: Keep a journal.
Sure you may have a lot of friends you can turn to, but it’s also important to write down what you feel NOW. But remember that journaling is not just for the ‘bad times’. Write down good times too so that each time you’re stressed, all you have to do is read some of those great entries and you’ll feel an immediate sense of relief, gratefulness and happiness.

Stress can eat you up if you let it so don’t. Prevent it by following the tips above. Good luck!

Stress Free Living with Gardening Therapy

Until a few years ago I would have never put stress free living in the same sentence as horticulture.  After all isn’t that  hard work.  What I found in Horticulture, more commonly known as gardening, is a calm, introspective activity.  A lot of people live in apartments or condominiums where there’s little or no place to garden. Then there are those who live in houses with well kept  lawns maintianed by a landscaper  because the homeowner has too much on her plate to garden.

Gardening requires time and you tell yourself you have too much to do and no time. Well, that’s the point – you need to get away from the stress of your day-to-day schedule and gardening is great way to do that!  Whether you have a enormous backyard or a couple of containers on a patio, you’ll be able to enjoy the therapeutic benefits of gardening.

More and more psychologists and physicians are prescribing gardening for stress reduction therapy everyday. Gardening allows you to enjoy an activity that’s nurturing and gives back whatever you put into it.

In our instant gratification world, gardening changes the importance of time. Plants don’t grow overnight. During the growing time, plants require attention and depend upon you to protect them from bugs and disease.

Gardening teaches patience that over-stressed, extremely anxious people don’t appear to have. If you’re facing burnout and stress from work or your personal life, gardening is an activity that gets you outside and actually helps to lower your blood pressure.

Gardening can also give you a secure place to take out your frustrations. Angry with  your co-worker?  Spend your time focuing you your gardening and not your colleagues.. Need to work out some anger?  Pull weeds.

And if you really would like to work out some emotions, work until your dead tired and sweating,  cut off a few  dead branches or  mulch the flower beds. In this ways, you get something constructive out of negative emotions.  Even if your thumb isn’t very green, you can arrange a Zen rock garden surrounded with easy to care for plants in small containers.

If you use small containers, you only stand to lose a few plants at a time. Then you replace the container and don’t have to dig in the dirt. That’s much easier and faster.  Another way to make your garden a peaceful place is to add a water feature.

Local home improvement stores have kits with everything you need and classes on how to set up a fountain or pond. Even a small water feature on the patio can bring more of a sense of accomplishment and peace to your garden then you can even imagine.

As you gain more gardening experience, you will be able to  grow different types of plants. Check with your local plant nursery for suggestions on what types of plants fit into the limits of your outdoor environment and within your skillset. Gardening might just become habit-forming it’s a effective way to decrease stress and provide tranquility.

Stress Free Living – How Do You Manage Your Stress

Living stress free means managing your life.  If you don’t manage stress, it will find a way to manage you. Stress can be very invasive in your life. It loves to be in the driver’s seat and you hand over the keys without fail on a regular basis because you feel defeated by it.

You might blaming the boss, the car mechanic or your spouse for your stress. You can’t control what other people do or say, but you can manage some of the smaller irritations in your world in order to reduce your stress.

Magazine Perfect Housekeeping – Unless you can afford a full time housekeeper, you need to accept that clean is good enough. Save the frantic furniture polishing and baseboard wiping for quarterly cleaning or preparing for a party. Remember that rooms in magazines look so great because no one lives there to mess them up.

You really can’t get rid of all of the stress in your life, if you did you wouldn’t be living. – you need to become adept at learning how to prevent unnecessary  stress from entering your life.

That means change – and for some, change itself is enough to cause immense periods of stress and anxiety.  Even though it may be damaging your physical and mental health, you’re  got to take back the reins of control in your life.

You can’t just sit and whine about the stress in your life – you have to actively work on reducing it.

Stress Free Living Coping with Corporate Stress

Even if you love your job, they’ll be days where you are going to experience stress.  People allow stress to get the best of them, but you don’t have to.  You can learn to cope with corporate stress so you use the stress to move you forward instead of holding you back.

A Look At Corporate Stress

When you are stressed out about your work, you may feel like you are on an island all by yourself.  Of course, it isn’t the case at all.  Did you know that as many as a quarter of the people you work with right now feel as though the job is the biggest stressor in their life?  It is also thought that three quarters of employees feel as though they have more on-the-job stress than their parents ever did. 

Corporate stress is not something unique to you – everyone experiences it! Sometimes just knowing this is enough to help you get through to the other side so you can start feeling happy and healthy again.

Thankfully, there is something you can do to reduce corporate stress in your life.

Corporate On-The-Job Stress Solutions

Some solutions to corporate stress include:

• Letting the small things go, it probably doesn’t matter anyway
• Proactively balancing work and family life
• Creating a support network of friends and family, or even co-workers

Letting Things Go

The fact is, when you allow yourself to take a more relaxed and positive outlook on the world, it will suddenly become a lot more relaxed and positive.  When you choose to have a positive approach in life, you’ll likely find that the things that would have stressed you out before will now roll off your back.  It’s not that you won’t feel stress; it’s just that you will have a more positive way of interpreting things so that stress is not necessarily such a bad thing.

Finding Work-Life Balance

When work takes over our lives, that’s usually when we become stressed out at work and when we cannot cope well.  You should make sure that you engage in daily activities that do not involve work, even if this is simply reading a chapter of your favorite book or picking up the phone to call a friend.  When you allow your work life to consume you, stress will consume you too. In turn, you’ll become less efficient and effective at your job.

Relieve Work Stress with Quality Family Time

Make sure you spend time with your friends, family, or even your co-workers outside of work.  Don’t allow your home to become an office away from the office. That’s no good! Make sure you have a support network of friends and family members who will remind you that there are plenty of things to do that aren’t related to your work in any way.  It’s also helpful to have this support network so that when you are stressed out, you’ll have someone to turn to. Oftentimes a support system helps keep us grounded when we would otherwise be tightly wound with work-related stress.
 
It’s true that stress is a part of life, but that doesn’t mean it needs to consume us. Stress will come and go, but coping is something that needs to be ongoing so you can live a great life inside and outside of your professional life.

Stress Free Living De-Stressology Lesson – Keeping It Simple

This is such common advice you might think about ignoring it.  But if your ignoring it are you keeping it simple?

Simplifying your life means living uncluttered.  Get rid of that junk around the house.

When your home or office is overflowed with junk it tends to distract you and creative thinking goes right out the window.  Are you keeping stuff because you don’t “feel” like getting rid of it – procrastination.

Look around you and make a list of everything you don’t need and decide if it’s a throw away, give away or keep item.  Don’t take months completing this project.  30 minutes a day is all it takes and you’ll be pleasantly surprised to see what you can get accomplished in two short weeks.

Stress Free Living De-Stressology Tip – Plan Ahead

Plan ahead- there are certain things in life that just happen. They are annoying and frustrating but that’s just the way it is. This may include a traffic jam on your way to work or a long line at the post office. If you are prepared for these things, then you will be able to handle these annoying situations a lot better. Give yourself an extra 20 minutes to get to work to allow for the rush hour traffic. It’s a lot better for your self-improvement to be sitting in your car thinking “good thing I planned ahead and left 20 minutes early” rather than honking the horn and swearing for being late.

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