Do you dream of living in a metro city? If someone asks you why you want to live in a metro city, what would your response be? Would you say that you love city life because of sprawling skyscrapers, wide roads and boulevards, enormous arcades and malls, swanky cars, state-of-the-art infrastructure, and modern amenities? Yeah. That’s pretty much the standard response that most would have.

However, just as life is not a bed of roses, city life is not all about money, night clubs, bling, and flamboyance. Living in a fast-paced city like Mumbai, Hyderabad, or Bengaluru comes with its share of stress and hypertension.

Unending traffic snarls, uncontrollable spurt in population, and lack of clean air and water are some of the hard truths that proponents of urbanisation try to conceal. The aim of this article is, however, not to discourage anyone from relocating to a metro. This is also not a commentary on city life. All we’re trying to do is share a few expert tips that would help you reduce stress and enjoy life.

1. Surround Yourself With Green

Are cramped and closed spaces giving you a brain freeze? Combine it with the stress of your job, and life may seem unbearable at times. However, there is a solution far simpler than you could ever imagine. Head straight to the nearest park in the area. Spend some time amidst nature. You’ll feel much better.

While escaping concrete may not be completely possible in an urban setting, you can search for new-age homes in Bangalore that offer plenty of open spaces and even have provisions for gardens. For example, many new villa projects in Bangalore North offer abundant open spaces, scattered green patches, and full-grown trees within the campus. If budget permits, opt for such a home. After all, who doesn’t like waking up to bright sunshine, cool breeze, chirrup of birds, and fragrance of flowers and fruits? Such a start would surely keep you motivated throughout the day.

2. Stop ignoring your social life

When you socialise with friends, neighbours, and well-wishers, you can talk about everything going on in your life. Including problems. You can seek advice and even assistance.

On moving to a fast-paced city environment, many of us, however, lose touch with social life. This can lead to more anxiety. Try to interact with your neighbours as much as possible. Join a gym or a local club of your choice. Or simply make acquaintances during your morning or evening strolls in the park. A warm smile and exchange of pleasantries is a great way to break ice and initiate conversation.

To feel welcome and accepted in a city that you have recently moved to, make a conscious effort to fraternise with people who you meet every day – your neighbor, your gym trainer, your driver, your maid, and even your local milkman.

3. Tear yourself away from your phone before you go to sleep

Insomnia is one of the most common sleeping disorders in tier 1 cities. To combat this problem, many turn to their smartphones and tablets. To calm their restive selves, they pick up their phones and immerse themselves in games, movies, or social media banter.

What they don’t realise is that the bright blue light emanating from the LED screens of their phones interfere with the production of melatonin, a hormone that helps one fall asleep. This light also stimulates their brain cells and puts them in a perpetual state of stasis, wherein they feel tired, but can’t fall asleep.

Just make it a point to keep all your laptops, tablets, and phones away before you go to sleep. If you can’t change your habit immediately, you can still minimize the harmful effects of using handheld devices before sleep by using blue light filters and earplugs. Remember this. A good night’s sleep will help you get up early next morning, fresh and rejuvenated.

4. Work hard and play hard. But, don’t stop working out!

Endorphins are something your body needs to feel active and ready for challenges. But, with the challenges of modern urban life, it is difficult to make your body feel happy enough to release endorphins. By working out, you can ensure that enough endorphins are released to keep your mind in sync.

Are you already googling the best gyms in your area? Wait. With the right home, you’ll have access to all the modern amenities like gym, play area, cycle trails, and more. Check out the new villa projects in Hennur. There is so much on offer for the health conscious.

Dealing with the stress of urban lifestyle can be tough. There is no magic pill to make life easy. In a city, not only are you expected to be on your toes all the time, you may also feel isolated and completely alone.

Therefore, it is important to find the right balance between work and rest. This is the best way to regain composure and find happiness. You’ll start seeing results by making some positive lifestyle changes. No, we’re not asking you to completely overhaul your lifestyle. A few minor tweaks are all that’s required.