We've all had seasons of life where we feel totally overwhelmed by everything that's going on. This post is all about the little things you can stop doing to feel less stress.
Whether you're dealing with a job loss, work stress, bringing home a new baby, a health issue, or family issues, feeling overwhelmed by everything can make us feel powerless and stuck.
While we can't always change the things that are giving us stress, we can give ourselves a break in other areas of our lives.
To make things less overwhelming, it helps to stop doing some of the little things that add to our stress.
Things to Stop Doing
- Drinking too much caffeine. Put down the coffee cup! A little bit of caffeine might be a necessary pick-me-up in the morning, but too much caffeine can make you feel like you're on hyper-drive. Switch to water or decaf after you've had your first cup of coffee.
- Cooking fancy meals. Make simple meals and use paper plates – especially if you're in a season of overwhelm. My favorite simple meal is a PB&J sandwich with an apple.
- Facebook. We use it as an escape, but it often makes us feel worse because it looks like everyone else is leading perfect lives (they're not), while we're struggling. Limit your Facebook time when you're stressed. If you need to, leave a message on your wall telling your friends that you're taking a short break from Facebook, but that you'll be back soon. In the meantime, they can actually call you or visit you if they'd like to catch up. The same goes for other social media/internet platforms like Instagram and Reddit.
- Responding immediately to texts. Some texts are urgent, and others aren't. Set up different ringtones for the people you need to respond to right away. You can respond to the other texts when you feel like it.
- The News. Did you know that 24-hour news programs and websites purposely create a sense of urgency in their delivery of the news? It's designed to keep us watching and clicking so we stay tuned to what they're saying. Being plugged into the news all the time can totally stress you out. Watch a regular network news program or the local news if you like to watch the news, or read something like The Skimm, if you prefer to read online.
- Stop breaking promises to yourself. If you're frustrated about not having control of your own life, and wish you could have more confidence in your ability to stick with something, make a commitment to keep at least one small promise to yourself. And don't budge! This is a game changer, and will give you a big confidence boost.
- Stop scheduling too much. Overscheduling is a HUGE source of frustration for many people. If you're not already using a calendar or planner to track your time commitments, start today. If possible, try to only schedule a single thing each evening so you're not racing all over town trying to get to all of your appointments, meetings, and activities.
- Stop overlooking clutter. Decluttering helps you clear out space in your home or office, and that reduces your stress. If you can make quick pick-ups part of your routines, you'll feel lighter, and less distracted.
- Stop comparing yourself to others. Focus on your own journey and what makes you happy. Don't get caught up in what other people are doing; celebrate your own successes,
What is a Stop Doing List?
A stop doing list is a tool that can be used to help break bad habits or stop doing things that are no longer helpful or productive.
The stop doing list is a simple concept: write down a list of things that you want to stop doing in your life, and then make a commitment to stop doing them.
The stop doing list can be incredibly powerful, because it forces you to take a hard look at your habits and behaviors and make a conscious decision to change them.
To be effective, the stop doing list should be specific, realistic, and actionable.
For example, instead of vowing to “stop procrastinating,” you might commit to spending 20 minutes each day working on a task that you've been procrastinating on.
By making small changes like this, you can gradually break the cycle of bad habits and start living a more productive and fulfilling life.
What is the Stop Doing List in Good to Great?
The stop doing list is a central concept in the book “Good to Great” by Jim Collins.
This list is designed to help individuals and organizations focus their efforts on the actions that will have the greatest impact on achieving their goals.
According to Collins, successful companies are consistently rigorous in evaluating their performance and cutting out any tasks or activities that do not add value.
This involves continuously reevaluating what they should stop doing in order to make room for higher-impact activities.
By following this approach, an individual or organization can achieve great results by making the most of their time and resources.
Whether you are starting a new business venture or looking to take your career to the next level, applying the principles of the stop doing list can be a powerful way to get ahead and succeed.
How Can I Stop Comparing Myself to Others?
Comparison is the thief of joy. – Theodore Roosevelt
The first step is to become aware of when you're doing it. Notice the thoughts that come into your head when you see someone on social media or in-person who has something you want (e.g., a nicer car, more money, a more attractive partner).
The next step is to challenge those thoughts. Ask yourself whether what you're seeing is really an accurate representation of that person's life or if it's just a highlight reel. And ask yourself whether having those things would really make you happy.
When you make your own stop doing list, make sure each thing you list will truly benefit you.
We've listed a lot of ideas in this article for inspiration. But only you can make a stop-doing list for yourself based on your core values.
You may not be able to come up with a stop-doing list in a single day, but with some time and creativity, you can craft a stop doing list that will help you level up to the next chapter of your life.
More Ideas for Managing Your To-Do List
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