Five Ways to Keep Your Anxiety in Check
In this blog post, I am going to outline five tips you can use today to help keep your anxiety under control.
“I Feel Like I Can Never Just Relax.”
Do you feel like you can never shut your mind off? Do you have trouble sleeping because thoughts are constantly rolling through your head? You may be struggling with anxiety. Perhaps you thought it was “just stress” and it would end soon…but it hasn't, and it is effecting your daily life. Anxiety can cause irritability, difficulty concentrating, trouble sleeping, and the inability to see problems clearly.
Below are five things you can start now to reduce anxiety in your life.
Do a Brain Dump
You are exhausted from all the responsibilities you have kept up with throughout the day, but as soon as your head hits the pillow, your mind turns on and won’t stop. The “brain dump” is a great thing to do right before bed to keep those thoughts at bay.
Keep a notepad by your bed and simply write down all the things on your mind right before hitting the pillow. Getting the thoughts down on paper helps you drift off to a restful sleep because you do not have to worry about forgetting your mental to-do list.
2. Move Your Body
Anything that gets your body moving will boost those stress relieving endorphins. Exercise is a natural way to reduce stress and relieve tension, as well as increase energy. Regular exercise can increase self-confidence, improve sleep, help you relax and improve your mood. Aim for at least twenty minutes, but even as little as five minutes can make a difference in how you feel.
3. Meditate
Even a few minutes of meditation or deep breathing can help restore balance and calm. The great thing about this tip is you can do it anywhere: standing in line at the grocery checkout, waiting for a doctors’ appointment, on the bus, or even during a difficult meeting. During mediation, you are focusing your attention and eliminating the chaotic thoughts. You don’t need any equipment to meditate, but I enjoy the Insight Timer App for guided meditations.
4. Talk to Someone
Connect with a physician or therapist to create a treatment plan to deal with your anxiety. Even talking to your friends and loved ones about your anxiety can provide some relief.
5. Reset Your Day
When all else fails, start your day over. Do something that will help you reset the tone of your day. Taking a shower, having a cup of coffee or tea, taking a nap, or going for a walk are just a few ideas.
Contact me today if you are interested in working together on decreasing the anxiety in your life. I can help you live the life you want.
