How to Follow-Through on a Project to Reduce Stress

I often find myself getting really excited about a certain project or idea I have. It all starts off good as I put pen to paper or fingers to keyboard and the lists start flowing. But then, I start to get other ideas that gets me off topic from my original idea and on to something else. It would be wonderful to start all of these projects if I followed-through. The problem is by creating multiple projects at the same time I become distracted and don’t finish what I started. The key to accomplishing a task is to leave everything else at the door. As you approach your yoga mat in class, do the same thing when you approach a project. Leave everything else behind and just concentrate on the project at hand. If an idea comes up for something else you need to do, try to let that thought go and if you feel it is so important that it can’t wait, then jot it down on a piece of paper or on a notepad on your phone.

Assess the situation - what is the project at hand?

Create a timeline and a game plan - how long do I need to get X accomplished? How am I going to do X in this timeline?

Prioritize and organize - Is this project your top priority? If so, organize your time to be able to fit it in to your schedule. If it is going to take you 5 hours to complete the project and it’s Monday and you have until Friday, you can either set yourself a goal of 1 hour a day, or if you procrastinate see if you have time to spend 2.5 hours on Monday and 2.5 hours on Tuesday, giving you time left over to finish it before the deadline and in case anything comes up or your procrastination kicks in.

This method can be used in your personal life and your work life. If you have created a personal goal of writing 1 blog post per month or if you have to create a power point for work. Whatever it is, the important thing is to focus on one thing at a time and schedule time in your day to get it done. At the end reward yourself for following-through and this will help you get into the habit of accomplishing one thing at a time.

Following through helps reduce stress as the sense of accomplishing priorities leaves you feeling relaxed and ready to take on the next task at hand!

Relax Tip: Breathe Deeply

Go to a place where you can truly relax – whether that is sitting on the soft sand at the beach, looking out over the water on your kayak, hiking up a mountain and enjoying the view from the top, or it could simply be finding a quiet space at home.  Whatever it is go to that place and close your eyes and breathe in deeply.

Benefits of Deep Breathing:

- Detoxifies and Releases Toxins

- Releases Tension

- Relaxes the Mind/Body and Brings Clarity

- Relieves Emotional Problems

- Relieves Pain

- Massages Your Organs

- Strengthens the Immune System

- Improves Posture

- Improves Quality of the Blood

- Increases Digestion and Assimilation of food

- Improves the Nervous System

- Strengthens the Lungs and Heart

- Boosts Energy Levels and Improves Stamina

- Elevates Mood

- Improves Cellular Regeneration

Take 5 minutes to focus on your breathing

Gently close your eyes or keep a soft gaze with your spine in an upright position, place one hand on your belly. Slowly inhale through your nose for a count of 7 seconds. Feel your belly rise, imagining a balloon filling up with air. Once you have reached 7 seconds, hold your breath for one second and then slowly release the exhale through your nose for 7 complete seconds. Repeat 5 times.

Take a Relaxing Bath

For those who love taking bubble baths and relaxing listening to calming music with candles in a dim lit bathroom, then you will love this.  Bath detox: fill your tub with warm water, a cup of Epsom salts, 10 drops of lavender oil, half a cup of baking soda and fresh cut flowers.  This miracle mixture will draw out toxins and detoxify your body inside and out.  This bath with lower stress related hormones and balance out your internal ph levels.  Turn on your favorite calming music and add candles of your choice.  A warm bath will help you relieve stress and will also relax your muscles.  Find time to unwind. 

Read a book in a quiet place

When your life gets busy and sometimes pretty hectic it can be difficult to even find 10 minutes in your day to just relax and unwind.  Try to schedule your time so that you can allow yourself some time to rest and relax.  What do you like to do to relax?  Find a quiet place either inside or outside and read a book.  Sometimes taking your mind off of your current situation can help you relax.  If reading is a book is not your thing, then read a magazine, or look at photos on Instagram.  Find what makes you happy and schedule yourself a bit of quiet time each day in order to relax.