Have you ever found yourself feeling overwhelmed with all the things you have to do? With your hectic schedule and overbooked calendar, you go through the daily grind without noticing that stress is wreaking havoc on your mind, body, and even your relationships. The good news? While you can’t eliminate stress completely, there are easy steps you can take to reduce your everyday stressors and minimize its negative effects on your life. Read on!

1 Unload your stress on paper (or your phone!)
It’s easy to get overwhelmed when you’ve got so many things on your mind: Pay the bills, pick up the kids, answer 1,000 e-mails. To make your day more manageable, transfer your mental list to a visible medium like paper or type it up on your phone. This frees up mental space and gives you a tangible list that you can tick off as you complete each task.   

2 Get some sun.

Guess what: Having a “sunny” disposition isn’t just psychological. Science has proven that the less natural light there is in a room, the more stressed—and sleepy a person feels. Give your mood a pick-me-up by taking a break from your dark cubicle and scheduling some outdoor time each day, whether to take a leisurely stroll, run an errand, or simply bask under the sun. (A sweaty workout works, too!)

3 Stop scrolling on Facebook or Instagram.

A social media break may seem like a good idea when you’re feeling frazzled, but seeing all those perfect, happy posts from your network can actually cause you to feel more pressured and anxious about your own life, according to several studies. It’s a giant time suck, too: A few “minutes” of Facebooking can easily turn into hours of mindless scrolling, causing you to lose valuable time that could’ve been spent doing work. If you can’t quit it for good, limit your phone usage with the help of smart apps or set a schedule and stick to it.

4 Try aromatherapy.
There’s a reason why so many people are gaga over essential oils: These concentrated plant extracts are powerhouses of calming, relaxing, and healing properties, and have been proven to lower stress simply by breathing them in or applying them topically. Try lavender to improve sleep, peppermint and lemon for a mood boost, or chamomile to calm nerves.

5 Escape reality—even for a little while.
Ever craved a senseless movie when you’re feeling mega-stressed? Or found yourself reaching for your favorite comic book, even when you’re neck-deep in work? It’s your psyche telling you that it needs a breather, which you can achieve by immersing yourself in someone else’s reality. Go ahead and give yourself time to escape; it just might be what your brain needs to recharge and get motivated.

6 Cover your bases.
The key to peace of mind? Accepting that you can’t control everything. But it’s also important to recognize the things you can control, so you can cover your bases and minimize your worrying. This includes making sure you’ve got enough emergency funds in your bank account, setting aside for retirement, securing a college plan for your kids, and getting adequate health coverage for you and your family. Worth checking out: AXA’s HealthMax Insurance, which offers up to P10 million in health benefits and provides lifetime coverage for critical conditions, so you don’t have to worry about medical bills.

For more information on AXA’s insurance and investment offers, visit www.axa.com.ph.