Kiran Athar
Have you ever been under a tight deadline, completely exhausted and frazzled, only to look over at your colleague and see them calmly working, cool as a cucumber?
Stress is a part of most of our lives, especially in a society that promotes a hustle culture – we’re always on the go.
But there are those among us who never seem too phased, no matter how much they’re pushed.
What’s their secret?
I’m going to share it with you below. Here are 10 habits of people who never seem to get stressed:
1) They prioritize self-care
We can’t eliminate stress from our lives, but we can minimize it.
And people who do a good job of this do so because they know the importance of looking after themselves…
Mainly by:
- Getting enough sleep every night
- Exercising regularly
- Eating well and drinking enough water
I like to think about it this way:
Imagine your body as an engine. The more you sleep, eat, and exercise, the more fuel your engine has to cope with the stresses of life.
But if you neglect self-care, you’re running on fumes. You don’t have energy. Little things that wouldn’t normally bother you start stressing you out.
People who never seem to get stressed keep their engines in top form, so take a leaf outta their books!
2) They set and maintain boundaries
A part of protecting their engine includes respecting their own emotions and time.
Our calm and collected colleagues, friends, and family members put strong boundaries in place so they don’t suffer from burnout, emotional exhaustion, or fatigue.
So, what type of boundaries should you be thinking about to achieve the same?
- Work boundaries – being upfront with your boss about not being contacted on your days off or being unable to take on more work due to your current load.
- Family boundaries – limiting the time you spend with a toxic parent or sibling.
- Friendship boundaries – letting a friend know that while you’d love to help them, you’re currently unable to support them in the way they need.
- Relationship boundaries – explaining to your partner that you need personal space a couple of times a week to recharge your batteries.
The truth is, life is always going to throw stress your way – it’s inevitable. But you can limit how much stress you receive by setting boundaries.
Think of them like your personal energy shield!
3) They have strong social networks
Now, even though people who never seem to get stressed work hard at maintaining their boundaries, that doesn’t stop them from having strong support networks to turn to…
In fact, research shows that people who have a close circle to rely on tend to be more resilient, happy, and fulfilled.
All of these combined equal a recipe for lower stress levels.
In some of my most stressful moments, it’s usually been my friends or my partner who stop me from spiraling out of control.
A good laugh over something silly, an evening unwinding watching films…No matter how insignificant it might seem, these social connections remind us that we’re supported and not alone in facing our battles.
4) They avoid drama
People who handle stress well tend to avoid people or situations that could cause unnecessary conflict or drama.
They value their time and energy too much to get caught up with time wasters!
And look, we all enjoy a bit of juicy gossip from time to time, but if you really want to reduce your stress levels, it’s best to stay well away.
I’ll admit, since moving away from my (big) and dysfunctional extended family, my stress levels have significantly reduced.
Now, my time is free to be spent on things and people I enjoy, instead of keeping up with the latest family feud.
5) They know their limits
Do you know when you’re becoming overwhelmed and stressed out?
How does your body tell you?
What do you do when it speaks to you?
I ask these questions because another habit of people who never seem to get stressed is that they know their limits to a T.
They know when they’re reaching breaking point, and rather than continue until it’s too late, they take a step back.
For example, if they’re sick, they’ll call work and explain that if they’re to continue working effectively and efficiently, they need a few days to recover rather than dragging themselves into the office unnecessarily.
You see, too often, we push our bodies to the limit, making it easier for our engines to run low and stress to set in.
If you’re guilty of this, it’s time to reconnect with yourself and start paying attention to the signs your body displays!
6) They keep a good work-life balance
Work-life balance is a term thrown around a lot these days and for good reason.
Gone are the times when we worked ourselves into the ground and sacrificed our own lives in the process!
But I get it, achieving a good work-life balance isn’t always easy.
People who never seem to get stressed know this, so they make it a top priority in life.
They work hard and play harder.
Here’s the thing – when you have time to spend with loved ones, or on your hobbies and passions, you’ll mentally and physically feel stronger.
You’ll have better management over your time and what you spend it on. All of this contributes to lower stress levels, as many studies have shown.
7) They limit their exposure to social media and the news
Is it just me, or does scrolling on Instagram or reading the news leave you feeling pretty depressed about the world?
We’re bombarded by information, 24 hours a day. It’s relentless.
So it’s only natural that being confronted by this barrage of negativity would raise our stress levels.
We see a family on the other side of the world suffering, but there isn’t much we can do. It’s frustrating.
We see a young girl making millions on TikTok and buying a grand house and car. We feel bad about our own lives. We start comparing. We forget to be grateful.
Is it any wonder that people who never seem to get stressed avoid both social media and the news like the plague?
8) They practice deep breathing or other relaxation techniques
Now, another habit you can adopt to avoid being stressed is learning deep breathing.
I have to say, this is one technique that has helped me – I noticed that when I’m particularly stressed or tense, I stop breathing properly.
In fact, most people are in the bad habit of shallow breathing.
So, the next time you feel yourself getting overwhelmed, check out this guide. You can adapt it to suit your needs.
I personally put on a bit of Ludovico Einaudi, lie on my bed, and breathe in deeply for 7 counts, then out for 7. This is just what works for me.
So, why is this so beneficial, and why do the cool cucumbers of our lives do it without even realizing it?
Well, when you breathe deeply, you’re sending oxygen to the brain. This then calms down the part of our nervous system that deals with stress.
Essentially, you can hack your own brain to feel calmer and more relaxed!
9) They don’t overthink things
Are you the type who overthinks and overcomplicates everything in life?
As a former overthinker, I know how you feel. It’s a tough habit to deal with, but one you absolutely should work to overcome if you want to deal with stress better.
And this is where the deep breathing techniques I mentioned above will help.
You see, people who never seem to get stressed are also prone to overthinking. Except they stop themselves from spiraling.
Rather than cause themselves unnecessary worry and headaches by thinking about things out of their control, they take a deep breath, refocus on what’s in their power, and move on.
If that doesn’t work, try speaking to a friend or writing down your worries. This can ground you and help you realize how much energy you’re wasting on things that aren’t worth your time!
10) They keep a positive outlook on life
And finally, if there’s one habit you adopt from this list, it’s to keep a positive outlook on life.
Stress-free people tend to share this habit because they know that when your mindset is positive, it’s easier to deal with all the crappy parts of life.
For example:
My brother (annoyingly calm and very hard to stress out) recently applied for a new job in London. Unfortunately, he didn’t get it.
But rather than feel annoyed or disappointed, he saw it as a learning curve. He also said, “Oh well, the silver lining is I don’t have to move to a hectic, expensive city now!”
His positive attitude is admirable.
Last words
So, here we have 10 habits of people who never seem to get stressed. Which are you adding to your list?
Remember, it’s not about eliminating stress altogether. That’s impossible.
It’s about learning how to anticipate it, deal with it, and overcome it whilst maintaining control over your life and emotions!
