The world is in a crazy place, sometimes it feels like it’s too much to bear. The good news is no matter what happens, the world will keep turning, and you’ll be okay. If you need some reinforcing, here are 6 great tips to avoid those anxious moments.
Cats and Dogs
Petting or cuddling a pet can help you immediately feel calmer and less anxious. It’s a weird trait that humans and animals picked up living together for so long. The effect can be particularly powerful with dogs, even just gazing at those eyes makes many people feel better.
Of course, you might not have an animal, but you can still look up pictures of cute puppies or kittens online. I strongly recommend to everyone getting a social media feed with more animals and fewer people (even if you don’t feel stressed now, it can help out later).
Take a Break from Social Media
This advice is so common it’s cliche, but social media really does not make you feel good. Any researcher who takes on the topic finds strong connections between using social media and anxiety, stress, depression, or some other mental health issue.
Of course, it’s impractical to totally give it up, and social media has a lot of positive uses, like chatting with friends. It’s difficult to find social success if you abandon it entirely, but taking a break (whether it’s for an hour or for a week) can help you feel better.
Talk to a Friend (Facetime or Skype is okay too!)
You might be surprised how much an old friend enjoys hearing from you. Family members too, often your mother will be delighted to hear from their kid.
A lot of people feel isolated currently, so if you feel that way you aren’t alone. Try having a conversation.
Get Something Good in Your Belly
Good food tends to make everything better. Similarly, if you are eating bad food, or not enough food, you’ll be cranky and anxious.
The food doesn’t have to be anything that special, even a very simple food that you haven’t had in a long time can be really rewarding. I recently did this with just peanut butter and bread, I hadn’t eaten it in months so when I gave myself a piece it was awesome.
Of course, you don’t want to develop unhealthy habits of using food to cope with problems, so do this in moderation.
Take a Walk
Fresh air does a lot to help your mind be calm and rested. The best walks have some nature in them, even if it’s just a few trees on the sidewalk.
If you spend all your time in the same place (very common if you work or study from home these days), this tip is extra important.
Deep Breaths or Even Meditation
I think more people would try this if they thought of it as just “doing nothing” for a little while. Breathe and do nothing for a few minutes and see how you feel. Don’t let your mind race about problems, just relax and breathe.
There are many great meditation apps to get you started if you want to go more in depth but you don’t know how to begin. Meditation is a great practice. Guided mediation to fall asleep especially is a great feature that is growing in popularity. If you need help starting, try out Mindzone, an excellent meditation app. It makes getting started a breeze, and it’s guided mediation to fall asleep is especially popular.
That’s our tips to avoid anxious today. If you get a burst of nervousness or stress, know that it’s okay and happens to lots of people.
Tell us your best tips in the comments below.
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