Chronic stress isn’t good.
High levels of persistent stress can lead to high blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetes, among other ailments.
While some stress is inevitable in your life — and short-term stress can actually be beneficial in small doses — you must effectively manage stress over time if you want to live well.
I have previously written about some effective ways to control stress, from gaining financial security to exercising to eating and sleeping well.
Here are 7 other proven ways to reduce stress and increase your well-being:
Work fewer than 40 hours per week
Follow the example set in Denmark, where people work hard but rarely put in more than 37 hours a week. Denmark often ranks as one of the happiest countries in the world, according to the World Happiness Report.
Take up to 6 weeks of vacation per year
At the very least, use all of your vacation time per year and keep negotiating for more until you’re getting 6 weeks which is the optimal amount for happiness. The average American worked doesn’t even take their 2 weeks!
