Quick Tips for Reducing Anxiety
One of the most difficult things that I’ve had to admit to myself is that I often take on more than I can handle. I’ve mentioned before that I’m a ‘yes person’, so saying no to things can be a huge challenge for me. This typically leads to a majorly over-crowded schedule and a ton of extra stress. Sometimes, I’ll take a step back and realize that I’ve bitten off more than I can chew, so to speak, but it’s equally as challenging for me to back out of something I’ve previously committed my time to. Due to my demanding schedule, I’ve learned a number of quick tips and tricks to reducing at least some of the daily anxiety that I face, even if only temporarily.
Anxiety is at an all time high in our society, which sounds counterproductive. We’ve got access to more resources now than ever, but for some reason we are more anxious than ever as well. So, in tandem with my “How to Live a Simplified Life” post, here are a few of my quick ways to reduce some of your day-to-day anxiety:
❤ Take a (relatively) long and refreshing shower
❤ Breathe in for 5 seconds, hold it for 5 seconds, and then breathe out for 5 seconds
❤ Slowly drink a glass of water
❤ Eat your favourite snack and savour each bite
❤ Count your breaths
❤ Give yourself a short head/neck massage
❤ Talk to someone - a friend, a family member, even a therapist (it’s not weak to admit you need help)
❤ Listen to calming music - here’s a good playlist for this
❤ Close your eyes and visualize turning down the volume on stress
❤ Go for a walk around the block to physically separate yourself from the anxiety
❤ Take a 15 minute cat-nap (when your schedule permits)
❤ Plan a hypothetical vacation (or a real one)
❤ Think about something you’re excited to do in the future (a date, a bath, a Netflix binge, a trip, etc)
❤ Turn OFF your phone or just let it die
❤ Hide your social media shortcuts deep within your phone so that they’re less accessible
❤ Dab your wrists with relaxing essential oils such as lavender or peppermint and breathe in the scent
There are obviously a ton of options when it comes to reducing anxiety, but these are some of the ones I’ve tried as of late. Not everything works for everyone, but it’s worth trying to find something that helps you relax. The most important thing to keep in mind (IMO) is that the anxiety will pass and when it does you’ll feel a lot better. Remind yourself of a time when you weren’t anxious and that should help put things into perspective.
What do you do to help reduce your anxiety? Because I know we all get anxious and we all have a handful of little things that make us feel better. Share your tips with me in the comments below.
