03/28/2023
13 Ways to Tame Anxiety
Anxiety is a common affliction, and that’s not surprising. The modern world is much more demanding and complex than our brains were designed to handle.
Reduce the intensity of your anxiety with these strategies:
• Go for a run. Actually, it doesn’t have to be a run. Exercise is an effective way to burn off that extra stress.�
• Declutter your life. Clutter adds to anxiety. Tidy up your environment and notice how much better you feel. Start with the rooms and areas in which you spend the most time. Include your personal space at work, too.�
• Declutter your brain. Take care of the things that are on your mind. Procrastination creates mental clutter and stress. Trying to remember things is challenging for your brain too. Make lists and use a calendar and alarms to ease the load on your poor brain.�
• Spend time with your pet. Pets are great for reducing anxiety. Play on the floor with your cat. Take the dog for a walk. Sit and watch your fish.�
• Think about something positive. You’re only anxious because you’re thinking about something that makes you anxious. Give yourself a break and think about something else for a while.�
• Change your diet. Your diet can have a negative impact on your stress levels. Play around with your food choices and find out what works for you.�
• Give yourself something to look forward to. It can be a great relief to have something positive to look forward to. No matter how stressed you are about work, knowing that you’re heading out of town for a couple of days next weekend can take the edge off.�
• Distract yourself. This is what bad habits are, distractions. However, not all distractions are bad habits. Read a good book. Re-watch your favorite movie. Try a new restaurant.�
• Take slow, deep breaths. Your breathing naturally becomes shallow and faster when you’re stressed.
• Play the name five things game. Bring your mind back to the present. Look around your environment and name five things you see. Now, name five things you feel. For example, “I feel the pencil in my hand. It feels smooth and warm.”�