Saying “I am anxious” is like saying “I am thirsty.” If you are thirsty, your body is letting you know, “I need to drink water.” If you are anxious, your mind and body let you know your human needs are out of balance. You are an average human in need. |
With this ideology in mind, can we reflect on some solutions that may feel less anxious?
Perhaps, some influences of new ideas to hold upon. Acceptance of self and others for who they are. Time to grow, learn, practice, love, grieve. No unrealistic expectations. What are you in need of? Think about it carefully.
Experiencing increased stress or anxiety? Are you able to recall specific events in your life that were stressful and caused you to become anxious?
All of the effects of stress and anxiety are detrimental to both our physical and mental well-being. We will cover some essential points to help you all with stress management and reducing anxiety levels.
Many of you may question yourself as to why you should care about stress? Nevertheless, many are unaware of the link between high-stress levels and a weakened immune system.
Stress has been directly linked to high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, and diabetes. Therefore, reducing our stress levels and altering how we react to stressful situations can boost our Resilience and prevent illness.
Besides the panic of the worldwide pandemic, life, in general, can be challenging for everyone, with ongoing challenges and constant hurdles to overcome. However, we can become aware of stressful triggers in our lives and regain connection, certainty, and control.
In challenging times, it’s imperative to develop our Resilience to cope with the increased pressure and demand that we are experiencing. Let’s talk about mental health and look into areas where we can improve our well-being!
Firstly, we can begin by emphasizing prioritizing your health. This can be done by making sure that you are in tune with your body, identifying and preventing anything which could have a detrimental impact on your mental and physical health.
At times, doing simple things such as getting a good night’s sleep can make a significant difference to your well-being. The optimum amount of sleep differs for each individual.
However, eight hours per night is a good average. The best way to tell is if you’re dreaming. If not, then you probably need more sleep!
Most importantly, we should adopt a positive mindset. A daily positive thought is a powerful attribute to well-being. Harness this power by taking heed of your emotions and identify the positives in difficult situations.
A gratitude journal is a simple way to get into the habit of appreciative thinking.
Moreover, time management is vital. Mastering your time is essential for handling stress and helps to provide a sense of normality during turbulent times. Maintain structure and plan your day around the things that matter most.
Some physical activities that we can try include practicing deep breathing. Breathing exercises can induce calm and support mindfulness, a technique to engage with your inner self, focus your thoughts and increase Resilience.
Use this time to try something new like yoga or medication.
Stay hydrated. The human body is approximately 70% water, and when our levels dip, we can experience anything from headaches and fatigue to seizures. A woman should aim to drink at least 4 pints a day, and a man should be drinking 5.
We should continue to eat for our well-being and not turn to stress eating. High-stress levels can leave your body feeling depleted of vital nutrients and vulnerable to the adverse effects of stress. Overall, a balanced diet will improve your health and can boost resistance.
We should not become slaves to the technology era. The stress of technology can have an exhausting effect on our lives. Taking time away from the screen and having those crucial conversations in person. If you are still feeling the pressure, try a digital detox!
Perhaps you can replace your screen time with just 6 minutes of relaxing into a good book which has been told to reduce blood pressure and muscle tension.
Also, being creative often, with creativity being utterly dependent on what you enjoy, whether that is – knitting, writing, or even gardening, can improve; mood, self-esteem, and mental agility.
Learning a new skill can give you; a sense of achievement, a fresh burst of confidence, help relationships in your life grow and attract new connections as you will be able to connect with others more efficiently. Lastly, it can help you to build a sense of purpose.
Sometimes this is not an obvious point; however, learning to say no can save a lot of stress and anxiety down the road. The “Yes-stress” is usually caused by agreeing to do something that you don’t have the capacity for.
Saying ‘no’ is not selfish, and sometimes, it’s the healthiest answer. Removing guilt from the equation and if you are still struggling to decide, sleep on it!
After all, saying no and setting boundaries will ensure that you know your limits and what your mind can take.
All of the simple steps we have mentioned can be adopted into your life to help reduce stress and bolster your immune system for good mental health and better well-being.
It may take a while to incorporate some of these activities straight away; however, trying at least 2-3 of these a day will definitely get you going for the moment!
Lastly, giving thanks will improve your well-being. Being thankful every day can benefit your quality of life and well-being significantly.
Saying ‘Thank You’ more can; improve your physical and psychological health, enhance empathy, reduce aggression, improve self-esteem, increase relationships and help you get a better night’s sleep.