How to Live Productively With Anxiety: A Practical Guide
This article will give you strategies for managing the anxious feelings that pop up now and again.
Step 1: Make sleep a priority
Few things in life are more important than sleep — except for air, water, and food. If you don’t get enough sleep, your body doesn’t have the chance to rest and recharge, which leaves you feeling fatigued, moody, and stressed out.
If you have anxiety, not sleeping enough can make your anxiety symptoms even worse.
To ensure you’re getting enough sleep each night, make sure you’re following these tips:
- keep your bedroom dark and quiet;
- go to bed and wake up at the same time every day;
- don’t drink so much coffee after 2 p.m.;
- taking naps during the day.
Step 2: Exercise every day
Exercise is one of the best ways to relieve stress and anxiety. It can help you sleep better, release endorphins that improve your mood, and strengthen your body, so you don’t feel as anxious when you’re under pressure.
Exercise can also help keep your stress levels down by reducing your overall cortisol levels, produced when your body is under stress.
The American Psychological Association recommends getting 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity daily to help reduce anxiety levels. You can break it up into small chunks spread throughout your day, like taking a walk during your lunch break or doing yoga while watching Netflix at home.
Step 3: Talk to someone you trust
Sometimes, the best way to decrease anxiety is to put your feelings into words. Talking to someone you trust, like a friend or family member, can help you process what you’re feeling, give you a different perspective, and help you let go of some of that anxiety.
Step 4: Meditate for 15 minutes every day or use special exercises
Meditation is a great way to get out of your way if you’ve ever felt stuck in your head as a way to cope with anxiety. It’s a simple practice that helps you get in touch with your thoughts, emotions, and current state of being. Meditation can reduce anxiety symptoms and help you better cope with stressful situations.
Step 5: Develop a ritual that calms you
Anxiety is all about being caught up in the moment and unable to see past your thoughts. You can do a daily ritual that helps you get in touch with your body and find a sense of calm. Rituals don’t have to be complicated — they need to be something you do each day to help you relax after a long day and prepare you for the next one.
Some examples include:
- taking a hot bath;
- drinking chamomile tea;
- reading a book;
- meditating or doing exercise, for example, there is an excellent selection of them in the Sensera app;
- doing yoga or going for a walk.
The key is to find a ritual that helps you relax and be mindful. When you have anxiety, it’s important not to push yourself too hard. Instead, try to find a gentle, calming ritual that helps you unwind from a busy day.
Conclusion
Anxiety is a normal human emotion, but it can become a severe problem if you don’t learn how to manage it. When you feel stressed out, anxious, or out of control, it can be helpful to identify the sources of your anxiety and tackle them head-on.
These tips will help ease some of the stressors in your life while also giving you strategies for managing the anxious feelings that pop up now and again.