5 Ways To Ditch Anxiety Today
Breathe
We all have the
most perfect relaxation system already built within us, the breath. The
only problem is – most of us have forgotten how to use it properly.
Instead, we rely on short shallow breathing which tells our body there
is something stressful going on, and helps to feed the anxiety cycle.
Each time you
feel your anxiety getting worse try taking a ten-minute breathing break.
Simply take long deep breaths that fill your lungs completely and allow
your mind (and stress levels) to slow down with each breath.
Take a play break
With technology
making the lines between work and play very blurred, many of us never
allow ourselves to switch off. We go to bed with a phone beside us, work
24/7 and find it hard to justify taking the time to do things that have
no productive purpose.
This is a big
mistake. Research has shown that people who make regular time to play
(doing the things they enjoy just for the sake of it) are happier and
suffer less anxiety. If you’ve forgotten how to play, carve out 20
minutes every day that are just for you. Don’t try to achieve anything
in this time, simply do something you enjoy. And remember ‘play’ doesn’t
have to look like children’s games, it could be reading a novel,
sitting in the sunshine with a cup of tea, dancing in your lounge room,
or yoga!
Move!
Movement might
be one of the most valuable tools when it comes to warding off anxiety.
Movement of all kinds helps to move negative energy out of the body and
gets your endorphins pumping (your happy hormones!).
The most
important thing is to choose a type of movement that you enjoy doing,
not just one you think you should be doing. Our society has become so
focused on movement for physical health that many of us have forgotten
that it is just as important for our mental health as well. If you love
running – do that, but if you prefer dancing like a crazy person to 80s
hits – then that’s what you should do!
Nourish your body
Have you ever
taken the time to think about how particular foods and drink make you
feel? Caffeine, alcohol, sugar and processed foods have all be shown to
make anxiety worse. Try experimenting with what foods make you feel good
and what foods feed your anxiety. But be wary of the ‘quick fix’ – some
foods will make you feel good in the short term and have you crashing
and burning an hour or so later.
Generally, whole natural foods tend to calm anxious states as they help all of the systems of our body to work most effectively.
Slow down
Many of us
spend all day every day racing from one thing to another. Instead of
having much needed quiet time when we’re traveling to work or waiting in
line, we fill that time with checking emails and social media. Our
brains are constantly on and it’s having an effect on our health.
Reclaiming
pockets of time throughout your day as down time can have a huge impact
on your anxiety. Meditation and yoga are great ways to help you
consciously slow down, but you can also do this by spending
(uninterrupted) time with children, taking the time to drink a cup of
tea without scrolling through your phone or just connecting with friends
with no agenda or time schedule.
Whilst there is
no quick fix for anxiety, each of these small changes can have a big
impact on how you feel each day. Most importantly though it’s about
becoming conscious of what triggers your anxiety and how you can help
support your body to relieve it when it occurs.
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