Say Goodbye to Stress By Taking A Small Step

Are you constantly thinking about your to-do list? Do worries linger in the back of your mind all day, and sometimes even visit you as you lie awake at night? It’s easy to feel stressed about all the little things in your daily life that aren’t getting done. Stress, whether small or big, can have negative effects on the mind and body, and that’s why it’s so important to take care of those little things in your life. In fact, studies show that people who procrastinate on their to-do lists have higher levels of stress and lower well-being than those who tackle projects head-on. Check out this list of little things you can do today to make yourself feel better, one step at a time.

Schedule an Appointment
Maybe you’ve needed a checkup at the doctor’s office for a while, but you’ve been putting it off. Or maybe your hair has gotten too long for your liking, but you just haven’t found the time to call your barber. Perhaps you even have some home repairs that need to be handled, but you haven’t gotten around to calling a professional service. Whatever you need to do, take a few minutes today and actually schedule your appointments. Once you have a plan in place, you’ll feel that much closer to getting those items off your to-do list, and you can start to relax.

Take Care of Your Finances
Have a bill that needs paying? Sit down and pay it. With online banking, most bills take less than ten minutes to pay — just a few minutes, and you’re done! Or if you’re all caught up on your bills, take some time to make sure your budget is on track. Studies show money continues to be the number one source of stress for the average American, and with loans, credit card debt, mortgage payments and daily expenses weighing us down, it’s no wonder we’re stressed! The good news is creating a budget could help ease this stress. Once you know exactly how much money you have coming in and what all your expenses cost, you’ll be able to rest at ease. Putting some time into your finances is a great way to relieve some stress in your life.

Declutter, Clean and Organize
Chaos breeds stress, and if your home is chaotic, your stress levels may go through the roof. Take some time to clean and organize your living space today. Create a calm environment by cleaning up your kitchen and bathroom, decluttering your countertops and using organizational systems to keep everything in its place. Try thinking about the places in your home that accumulate clutter and how you might keep those areas tidy in the future. You’ll be surprised how much better you feel when your home is clean and clutter-free.

Start Saving Today
Even though money is the top cause of stress among Americans, few people opt to think ahead and save for the future. Unsurprisingly, many people say they simply can’t afford to save any money after paying their bills and other necessary expenses. But what people don’t realize is that savings can start small. You don’t have to save a third of your paycheck every time to start seeing the benefits of saving money. One great way to start saving is to put some money away for your child’s college education. With a minimum contribution of just $25, you can open an account for your child and feel better knowing there is some money set aside for those future expenses. Take this small step today.
Say goodbye to the stress in your life by finally tackling the little things weighing you down. Learn more about how you can ease your stress by saving for the future at NC529.org.