10 Tips for Reducing Anxiety

We all deal with stress each day, but some people have trouble handling it in a healthy way. Intense feelings of anxiety can become detrimental to your everyday life if you don’t know how to manage your emotions. Stress and anxiety can cause problems like low self-esteem, headaches, irritability, and withdrawal. Cope with these intense and overwhelming emotions by using some of these 10 healthy tips to reduce anxiety. 

Say no to Coffee and Processed foods- What you take into your body has a major affect on your health and mood. If you are prone to anxiety, one thing you can do to help prevent it is to pay attention to what you eat and drink throughout the day. Caffeine can contribute to nervousness as well as mood swings, so you may want to avoid it to de-stress. Processed foods contain preservatives, sweeteners and white flour products that are all harmful to the body and the digestive system. Eat healthy, whole foods to feel better.

Analyze You’re Anxiety- Worrying and problem solving are two very different things. To realize what triggers your feelings of anxiety, you should try to identify the signs that cause you stress, so you can deal with them in a healthy way. Ask yourself if the problem you are worrying about is solvable, or if you are just letting your emotions get the better of you. Evaluate and investigate what causes you anxiety, so you know how to deal with it when it comes on.

Unplug- Technology and the internet can be major causes of stress and anxiety. We often feel as though we need to be “connected” at all times to ensure we are accomplishing something, or available to someone if they need us. However, one of the best ways to reduce anxiety in a healthy way is to simply walk away from all technology for a little while. Do this, and you will certainly be able to calm down.

Talk to Someone- The internal battle of emotions that comes along with anxiety can be a nightmare. An amazing ways to combat stress and overcome feelings of anxiety is to get out of your own head, and be social. Whether you choose to talk about your feelings and what is going on, or would rather keep conversation casual and light, being around people and simply engaging in conversation is a great way to reduce anxiety.

Exercise- It may seem like exercise would counter-act trying to relax, but it can actually benefit your mental health as well as your physical health. Avoid letting your fears and stresses overwhelm you, and get moving with some light exercise like walking or practicing yoga. Exercise does’t just relieve tension in your body, it releases endorphins in your brain that actually make you feel happy.

Just Breathe- This amazing relaxation tip is an incredibly effective stress relieving exercise. Something you can do anywhere when feelings of anxiety come on, is to just sit, close your eyes, and focus on your breathing. Deep, slow breathing instantly calms you down, and can relieve you of negative feelings in a healthy way.

Take Action- Doing something, anything, even if it isn’t related to what you are stressing about, can help reduce anxiety. Take your mind off of the problems that are causing you stress by keeping busy and doing something that feels productive. Sitting and thinking about your worries won’t make them go away, so you should stay active by doing some chores, lending a hand to a friend or colleague who may need help with something, or trying out a new healthy recipe.

Drink Tea- Tea is one of the best super foods that can keep you healthy in more ways than one. There are a number of different kinds of teas, many of which are filled with relaxants like chamomile or soothing flavors like honey. Full of antioxidants and nutrition, tea is the perfect healthy way to take some time for yourself to relax and reduce anxiety.

Write in a Journal- Don’t allow the stresses of your life to keep building inside of you, leading to increased anxiety. Get your feelings off of your chest, and calm down through a technique like writing in a journal. You can either write about what you are feeling, or practice jotting down things that are going right and that you are grateful for. Expressing gratitude for the good things in your life, can help you identify all of the reasons you should’t be stressed.

Take a Day Off- Your job and career, home, friends, family, obligations and tasks all add up to a hectic life. Although you may feel like it is impossible to completely let go for an entire day, it may be just what you need to stay healthy and anxiety free. Taking an occasional personal day can do wonders for your mental health, and can help clear room for you to focus on reducing anxiety. Don’t get so caught up in life that you forget to take a little time for yourself and your health.