National Stress Awareness Day 2022: 10 Ways to Live a Less-Stressed Life

National Stress Awareness Day is coming up on April 18, 2022! In preparation, we wanted to share 10 ways that you can live a less-stressed life. Whether you're dealing with work-related stress, family stress, or just general stressors in your life, these tips can help. Implementing some of these ideas may take a bit of effort, but they are all worth it, in the end, to help improve your mental health.

Top Ten Ways Manage Stress

Get enough sleep

Most adults need around eight hours of sleep per night. If you're not getting enough shut-eye, it can lead to increased stress levels. Make sure to get to bed at a reasonable hour and turn off electronics an hour before you sleep.

Exercise

Exercise is a great way to reduce stress and to live an overall healthy and positive life. It doesn't have to be anything too intense, even a brisk walk can help. Just get your body moving and your heart rate up for a bit!

Eat Healthy

Eating nutritious foods helps your body to function at its best. When you're feeling run down, it's harder to deal with stressors in your life. Make sure to include plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains in your diet.

Take breaks

When you're feeling overwhelmed or stuck in a stressful situation, take a step back and take a break. Go for a walk, read your favorite book, or just take some time for yourself. It'll help you recharge and be better equipped to handle whatever stress comes your way. Learn to meditate! Deep breathing is a simple form of meditation and a great way to improve mental wellbeing. Practice taking a few moments on a day-to-day basis to pause and breathe!

Be organized

Having a plan and being organized can help reduce stress. Make to-do lists, keep a calendar, and set reminders for yourself. That way, you won't have to worry about forgetting something important. Getting organized is not just to reduce feeling stressed by to increase personal growth! What would you do with more time on your hands?

Say no

It's okay to say no sometimes! If you're already stretched thin, don't feel like you have to commit to anything else. Just politely decline and focus on taking care of yourself and your well-being. This applies to both personal and professional lives.

Delegate

If you're trying to do everything yourself, it's going to be tough – and stressful! If possible, delegate tasks to others who can help out. That way, you can focus on the things that are most important to you.

Set boundaries

Along the same lines, it's important to set boundaries with others. Let them know what you're comfortable with and what your limits are. That way, you won't end up feeling overwhelmed or taken advantage of. Whether it is with a friend or a family member, sometimes you just need to set boundaries to help with anxiety and stress.

Simplify

Sometimes, the best way to reduce stress is to simplify your life. If there are things that you can eliminate from your schedule or life in general, do it! You'll feel much better without the extra weight on your shoulders.

Set Realistic Goals

Part of simplifying your life is setting realistic goals. If you're constantly putting pressure on yourself to achieve unrealistic goals, it's going to lead to stress. Set goals that you know you can reasonably achieve and be proud of yourself when you reach them!

We hope these tips help you in living a less-stressed life! Remember, make sure to take some time for yourself and de-stress!

Wealth Building Tips That Will Save Your Life and Wallet!

Money is one of the biggest sources of stress in people's lives. It can be hard to save money, and even harder to build wealth. However, it is not impossible. In this blog post, we will discuss some ways to save money and build wealth!

Automate Your Savings

Start saving money! It is the first step to wealth building. You need to have a plan and be disciplined in your spending. Figure out what your savings goals are and how much you need to save each month to reach them. Automate your savings. Direct deposit a certain amount of money from each check before you see it so that you don't have to think about it. Once you have a plan, stick to it! Keep this for your emergency fund!

High Yield Savings Account

Open separate savings account for long-term savings. Investing in a high yield savings account is a great way to grow your money while taking less risk than gambling or stock market speculation. A high yield savings account will give you a higher interest rate on your deposited funds, which means more money in your pocket. Look for an account with no fees and a good interest rate. Shop around and compare rates to find the best deal for you.

Invest!

Investing is another key element of wealth building. Investing allows you to grow your money while taking less risk than gambling or stock market speculation. There are many different ways to invest, so figure out what works best for you and your goals. A financial advisor can help you get started if you're not sure where to begin.

Keep Credit Card Debt Minimal

Another great way to save money and build wealth is by keeping your credit charges low. Credit cards can be a great tool if used correctly, but they can also be a financial burden if not managed properly. Keep your credit card balances low to avoid interest charges. Make sure you pay your bill in full each month to avoid late fees. If you use credit wisely, it can be a helpful tool in Wealth Building. You can usually get a free credit report annually from your bank so you can learn where you stand!

Finally, remember that Wealth Building takes time! Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither is a solid financial future. Stay disciplined, budget, focus on your goals and be patient. Wealth building is a marathon, not a sprint. If you stick to these wealth-building tips, you will save money and improve your financial situation. Wealth building takes time and effort, but it is worth it! Follow these tips and you will be on your way to a more secure future.

10 Tax Prep Tips to Make the Process Easy and Stress-Free

Tax season can be a stressful time for many people. But it doesn't have to be! With the right tips and tools, you can make the process easy and stress-free. In this blog post, we will provide you with a tax prep checklist to help make tax season a breeze.

- Start early: The earlier you start preparing for tax season, the easier it will be. Begin by gathering all of your relevant documents and information. This will help you avoid last minute stress and scrambling to get everything together.

- Use a checklist: A tax prep checklist can be helpful in ensuring that you don't forget any important steps. It can also help you stay organized and on track throughout the process.

- Gather your documents: In order to file your taxes, you will need to have a number of documents handy. These include your W-­‐two form, income statements (such as bank statements and investment account information), receipts for deductible expenses, and proof of any tax credits or deductions you are claiming.

- Use a tax preparer: If you don't feel comfortable preparing your own taxes, consider using a tax preparer. Tax preparers can help make the process easier and less stressful. They can also offer advice on how to reduce your tax bill and avoid common mistakes.

- Check for errors: Once your return has been prepared, be sure to check it over for errors. This includes reviewing all of your information and ensuring that it is correct and accurate. If you find any errors, be sure to corrected them before filing your return.

- File electronically: Filing your taxes electronically can save you time and money. It's also more secure than mailing in paper returns.

- File on time: Tax returns must be filed by April 15th each year. If you miss the deadline, you will incur penalties and interest charges.

- Get organized: Organization is key when it comes to tax season. Keep all of your documents and information in one place so that you can easily access it when needed. This will help minimize stress and make the process simpler overall.

By following these tips, you can make tax season a breeze! So get started today and enjoy a less stressful tax season this year.

**Full Disclosure: I am not a tax preparer or financial consultant of any kind.

Life Hack! Simple Freezer Storage

Here’s a quick and amazingly simple life hack for you.

When I find a good price on ground beef I buy the larger packs, and will separate and freeze what I won’t be using right away.

It’s just my husband and myself that I am cooking for so I freeze approximately 1lb portions which works perfectly for most meals for us. I don’t overthink this by weighing anything. I just eyeball it based on the total package weight. I use a quart size ziplock bag and add in the ground beef. I try to equally disperse the meat inside the baggy and then I smush the bag down with my hand until the meat is in a thin even layer inside the bag. I would say the beef is less than 1/2 inch thick. I date the baggies and put them in the freezer. You might be saying, ok so why is this a life hack? Well….. because the meat is in a thin layer these stack nicely in the freezer rather than trying to fit odd shaped square or oval pieces into the freezer. More importantly when you are ready to use the meat it thaws very quickly. This is ideal for anyone who is responsible for cooking dinner. Not many of us have the time to plan well in advance every meal. Anything that is simple and fast is a plus as far as I can see. I have also seen images of some refrigerators that have little guidelines on the bottom of the freezer. I assume that these bags could be stood up on their sides and held in place by those little ridges if your freezer has them.

As always thank you for visiting our blog. If you enjoyed this post be sure to click the little heart and the bottom and leave a comment below. If you have a life hack you use and would like to share please feel free to comment below. If you give this life hack a try and find it helpful please comment below.

See how little space these take up! Very convenient.

This makes for easy thawing 😊