This post was written by a guest author.
Anxiety impacts millions of people all around the world, and sometimes it increases with age and the burden of more responsibilities. What you may not realize is how common anxiety issues are, and how simple tools can be used to help bring back control and happiness to your life. Here are 5 tips that will help you manage anxiety and keep you from spiraling into despair.
5 Tips That Will Help You Manage Anxiety
1) Get Enough Sleep
With family, work commitments, and more, many people cut hours from their sleep schedule in order to be able to balance their lives. However, when they don’t get enough sleep, they are setting themselves up for anxiety-related problems. When people are tired, their minds can’t focus properly, and this gives way to situations and thoughts that can trigger an anxiety attack.
Take a moment to step back and look at your life. Evaluate your schedule and focus on what is truly important. Are there any activities that can be eliminated from your schedule? Do you have a long commute? Is it possible to move closer to where you work or work from home? If not, can you find work that is closer to where you live? You need to fill your hours with activities and work that bring you happiness. Try to eliminate those that don’t bring you joy.
2) Healthy Eating
Everyone knows the key to healthy living is healthy eating, but in a busy world, eating healthy can be a real challenge. When you are tired and overworked, your body begins to crave junk food because it temporarily makes you feel better. The more junk food you eat, the more you begin to crave it; eventually, it becomes a part of your normal eating habits.
Try to curb those cravings. If you can, prepare a lunch ahead of time to bring with you to work. If you don’t have time to do so, choose takeout options that aren’t hard on the waistline, such as healthy salads or low-fat and low-sodium soups. Choosing healthier food options goes a long way to reducing anxiety. When you are well-nourished, your body performs properly, and when you are able to work more efficiently, your mind is less likely to descend into anxiety-fueled moments.
2) Positive Affirmations
Much of the media and entertainment that society consumes is based on negativity. Viewers are drawn to the flashy headlines say how bad the world is and how it’s only going to get worse. You needn’t fall into this trap, however. Choose instead to counteract this negativity, from the moment you step out of bed and into the day, by focusing on the positive aspects of your life. Remember that you have a bed to sleep in, a roof over your head, good people in your life, a job to go to, or a life to live. 🙂 When you’re busy focusing on the good in your life, you’re too busy to worry about the things that make you anxious.
4) Meditate on the Present
One of the biggest stressors that induce anxiety is worrying about what might happen in the future. It’s easy for someone to tell you to stop worrying, but it’s not easy for you to do, and the advice is often brushed off. Maybe you’ve been thinking about it from the wrong perspective. You can’t control the future or current events, but you can control your reaction to what happens. Instead of fretting about what might happen, concentrate on what is happening right in front of you. Living in the now (instead of in an unknowable future) will give you a greater feeling control over your life. Clear your mind and focus on the present. The more you do this, the easier it will get, and you’ll be astonished by the profound impact it will have on your life.
5) Talk to a Professional
When all else fails, and your life seems to go from one crisis to another, it might be time to get some help. There are trained professionals who can help you manage your stress, identify your triggers, and work on overcoming your anxieties. If you can’t afford to pay a professional, call a helpline or search out organizations that work online. There are many nonprofit organizations that offer help to those suffering from mental health issues; you just need to reach out.
Give your body and mind what they need, and find ways to identify the sources of your stress. Use these five tips to help you overcome and beat your anxiety. You can’t always control what happens in your life, but you can control your reactions. Start small and let the positive impact ripple throughout your entire life.
