10 Little Ways To Unburden Yourself And Feel Less Stress This Year

1. Unburden yourself by realizing life isn’t going anywhere.

I know you want everything to happen right now, but please know that reaching one goal only causes a yearning to complete another. You have every right to be a high achiever, but everything you want aligns with you. Working hard toward an outcome while eroding your mental health and forcing unaligned results is not sustainable. You don’t have to constantly fight for what’s truly meant for you. It will fall into place. Unburden your worries about reaching success at a given time. Allow yourself some flexibility this year.

2. Unburden yourself and stop trying so hard to maintain one-sided relationships.

I know you think trying harder is the solution, that maybe they’ll finally see your worth or they’ll finally love you, but it’s usually in letting go that this happens—if they even realize your worth at all.

3. Unburden yourself by letting people win.

Sometimes you have to agree to disagree and move on with your life. You don’t need to fight every battle. You don’t need to prove yourself right—even if you are. Sometimes the victory is in letting people do whatever they want to do.

4. Unburden yourself by taking a break from your self-loathing talk.

You’re extremely hard on yourself. You don’t quit. You relentlessly talk down to yourself and convince yourself that you’re undeserving. It’s time to practice self-compassion and speak to yourself like you matter because you do.

5. Unburden yourself by giving up a fraction of your need to control.

I get it. Control keeps you safe. You know what to expect and try to mitigate the results. The truth is, you can’t. That’s part of the dysfunction and beauty of life. Letting go of control is when you see how strong you really are. 

6. Unburden yourself by allowing yourself more play in every aspect of life.

Play means seeing the wonder, absurdity, and curiosity in your circumstances. By allowing yourself more play, you’re more forgiving of yourself and others. The next time something goes wrong, laugh and notice the ripple effect in the people around you. 

7. Unburden yourself by sleeping in as late as you want on days off.

You aren’t a machine. I know you have your routine that you just have to stick to, but don’t forget to listen to your body. Sometimes our soul screams for rest, not just physical but emotional, social, or mental. Give yourself the rest you deserve. 

8. Unburden yourself by taking your time when making decisions.

Just because someone is pressuring you for an answer doesn’t mean you need to give one immediately. You’re allowed to sink into your gut and intuition. You’re allowed to do what’s right for you. Make decisions from a grounded place and not always an emotional one. 

9. Unburden yourself by celebrating the deep release of an emotional breakdown.

Crying is an act that helps us self-soothe. It’s also used to draw comfort from those around us. Allow yourself to break down, whether in the comfort of your home or around supportive friends. Give yourself the freedom to be human. 

10. Unburden yourself by opting out of draining conversations.

Let go of the burden of seeming rude. Instead, move towards the conversations that lift your spirit. Your thoughts and words are everything. You do not need to participate in draining conversations for fear of missing out or acceptance. In all you do this year, I hope you find a moment to let go of the pain, heartache, and grief. Unburden yourself and don’t give up hope.