How to Manage Stress, Reduce Anxiety, and Increase Wellbeing
Life is stressful. There is no mistaking this fact. If it were not enough to be stressed about everyday life, work, children, social engagements, and other factors of our existence, we now must contend with COVID-19 and the additional stresses that it brings on. The world around you is getting more and more stressful and now is the time to take things into your own hands and find ways to make your individual life less stressful and less anxiety filled while increasing your own wellbeing. If you are struggling to make it all happen, here are some ways you can do it.
Exercise
Maybe this was not exactly the word you were hoping to see in this article, but exercise is an amazing stress reliever. Getting regular exercise for at least 30 minutes 3 times per week has proven to lower stress hormones in our body while allowing for more restful sleep, and improving self confidence. Exercise offers a trifecta of what your body, mind, and even your soul needs to get more out of life. It can be difficult to start exercising, but if you can manage to walk some every day, find a workout routine online you enjoy, or even get involved with a local gym, you will see your entire life begin to improve while stress begins to melt away.
Limit Exposure to News
The news is meant to inform and some news avenues seem to do a great job at providing the news we need to remain informed, but too much information, in this instance, can have a negative effect. When you are overexposed to everything that is going on in the world, you can become stressed at your inability to control things. We have all seen stories on disasters while watching helplessly from our homes. It can be heartbreaking and knowing that these things can happen at any moment can bring on anxiety and stress you really do not need. Remain informed, but set limits on how much news you take in.
Limit Caffeine Intake
We all like a little jolt of caffeine every so often, but again, too much can be a bad thing. Caffeine has been proven to intensify anxiety symptoms and cause your heart to pump faster. Where this action is fine on occasion, too much caffeine can cause your body to simply overwork. Overworking your organs for too long can have a very negative effect on your overall health leading to even more anxiety and stress. Limit your caffeine intake and see how much better you feel overall.
Write Things Down
Anxiety and stress come in many forms and too much of it can weigh heavily on our ability to live a quality life. A great tactic to help is to write things down. No matter how old or young you are, stresses of daily life can cause you to forget to buy things from the store, appointments, or a myriad of other things you need to get done. Take some time each morning and write it all down. Writing out a schedule for yourself takes a few moments out of your day, but it helps tremendously to know you do not have to keep it all in your head. Additionally, journaling at the end of your day can help you unload your mind before heading to bed. Your mind can empty out leading to a more restful night of sleep.
Enjoy Time with Friends
Finding times to enjoy with friends can be a chore. Especially during these confusing times where social events are drastically reduced or cancelled, but it is important to find time with those you enjoy spending time with. Even though you may not be able to go out to eat in a larger group like you once did, try doing something outdoors. Pack a lunch and head out for a hike with a few friends or start a daily outdoor walk with a few people. The possibilities are not as limited as they might seem. Even if you cannot physically go out and do things, you can spend time in your own home interacting with friends online or try having a movie night with friends with the help of technology. Many streaming services offer watch party options that can help bring people closer together.
Stress and anxiety can happen at any time and to any person, but reducing those stresses and things that bring on anxiety will help your overall wellbeing. There is no one way to completely eliminate stress, but there are many ways to help reduce it. Getting involved with friends for activities, exercise, and turning off the news a little more can have drastic positive effects on your overall life. You are in control over your life and the stresses within, so take them on and work to reduce them one by one. You can do it!