Keeping up with life’s everyday tasks can be hard. While seeking professional help for any mental struggles you may have is important, sometimes there are minor changes we can make at home to help relieve some of this stress and anxiety.
Keep physically active
- While it is hard to be active every day of the week, establishing a routine that gets you moving on most days is extremely beneficial. Exercise is a great stress reducer and can improve your health and overall mood. You can start slowly and over time increase the intensity of your physical activity.
Avoid alcohol and recreational drugs
- It may be hard to say no to alcohol and drugs but, these factors increase anxiety. Caffeine and nicotine have the same effect on the mind. It is best to stay away from these substances when trying to reduce feelings of stress and anxiety.
Discuss your concerns
- Talking to a trusted friend after a hard day can help relieve stress. This may also offer another healthy perspective to what you are feeling. Knowing you are not alone in your emotions is always helpful.
Use stress management and relaxation techniques
- Stress management and relaxation techniques are vital for maintaining a healthy and balanced life. Some examples of these would be yoga, meditation, visualization techniques and exercise. If you are just starting, try only walking around the block once a day and see if there is an improvement in your mood.
Make sleep a priority
- Sleep is extremely important and without being rested, it is hard to battle stress and anxiety. Try to create a routine where you are getting enough hours of sleep and if you find it hard to sleep, contact a medical professional for help.
Eat healthily
- You do not need to be on a strict diet but, make sure you are nourishing your body with what it needs. Foods such as vegetables, fruits, whole grains and fish have been linked with reducing anxiety.
Sometimes to make a real change in our lives we need to alter more than one thing. Taking small steps and transforming little aspects of life can create a larger impact than we think. Try out some of these and track how your mood changes. Visit us at ITM to talk about more ways to reduce stress and anxiety.