5 Easy Ways to Manage Anxiety That Actually Work
I never truly addressed the struggle I've had with anxiety until after the pandemic. There have been a ton of changes in my life in a short period of time (I know all of us can relate) and throughout all these changes, I have noticed a concerning trend.
I would frequently get overwhelmed, even if there was nothing to be overwhelmed about. I would be so stressed about the amount of tasks I had to do, that I wouldn't get a single one done. I noticed myself spending hours just thinking, panicking, writing lists, getting distracted easily to the point where I would get extremely behind on my work.
It wasn’t until I was speaking with my therapist that I realized a lot of what I was feeling wasn’t the normal level of stress, but it was leaning towards anxiety.
Through the help of my amazing therapist and my support system, I have been able to implement small changes in my life that have helped me get through the anxiety I was experiencing.
Photo: @ashleynbattle
MEDITATION
I know I didn’t want to believe either, but it actually helps! I am no expert at meditation, but I found that taking just 5 minutes out of the day to practice meditation and breathing techniques has made a world of difference for me.
If you're just as new to meditation as I am, I highly recommend downloading Headspace or calm. These guided meditation apps guide you through not just the basics of meditation, but also provide you with short exercises and stories you can listen to throughout your day.
As I made the conscious decision to start taking better care of myself, this was the first purchase I made to become a better me and I couldn't be happier for doing so.
*bonus tip - I’m obsessed with the sleep casts to fall asleep to!
Here are other sources that have helped me along my meditation journey
JOURNALING
The easiest way for me to get the racing thoughts out of my head, is to get them out on paper! The simple task of writing down whatever is in my head throughout the day and every night has transformed the way I deal with my anxiety.
One of the most frustrating things for me is that I struggle to turn off my brain. I am constantly multi-tasking and always have multiple things going on at once, that I naturally over-think and have thoughts piling up in my head all day long.
One of the simple things I've started doing when I start to feel overwhelmed, is I stop, pull out my favorite pen and journal, and write down what I'm thinking about, how I'm feeling, and a solution to each of my problems. This can take me as little as 5 minutes to do and instantly refreshes my brain to prioritize what I do need to think about and what I don't need to stress about.
EXERCISE
Yes, the dreaded "you need to exercise to feel better" bullet point! As much as I hate the fact I'm preaching about this since my college sport back in the day was one of the causes of my anxiety, it really is a crucial part when it comes to dealing with anxiety.
I always struggled with what type of exercise worked for me, but when I finally settled into an exercise routine I like (being the Lean Legs program from Rachael Attard) I felt like a whole new me.
Exercising is the easiest and fastest way to take a little bit of time out of your day to just put your anxiety in a bucket, kick it to the side and forget about it. Just make sure you schedule it and stick to it. You don’t need any excuses to not do it!
STAY BUSY
I don't mean stay busy as in working all the time and having a million projects going. I mean staying busy doing things you wouldn't normally do, like hanging out with friends more often, and taking more time out of your day to do things you love.
I don't know about you, but I am my most anxious right when I wake up, before a meeting, when I'm driving, and right before bed. The common theme with all of these things is that in every instance I just mentioned, I am alone.
When I am alone with my thoughts, my mind decides to spill out all of my anxiety triggers out of nowhere. However, if I keep myself busy and give myself a reason to look forward to something coming up, it eases the anxiety just by a little bit.
**and the more I do things that contribute to relieving my issues, the more I feel better about them! See? It's an amazing cycle!)
Prioritizing tips from a certified project manager, aka, me!
I know many of you might not be like this, but I am a list person (this goes along with me being a journaling person as well). At the start of each day, I immediately abolish my anxiety by making a list of everything I need to get done, and I make sure everything on my list is actually attainable (otherwise, making an impossible list of tasks will only give you more anxiety!).
After that, I make a list of everything I want to do that day, whether it be hanging out with a friend, reading a chapter of my current book, exercising (which can also be a need), shopping for new makeup, etc. This list instantly lifts my mood and gives me things to look forward to, which eliminates the stress of the "needs" list, makes sense?
I treat both lists equally as important to each other because making time for things you want during the day is the most important part of self-care and managing anxiety, and I make sure to never go to sleep without finishing each list.
TALK IT OUT
I have been extremely fortunate to have amazing people in my life and amazing support that have been able to help me through the toughest of times. There is nothing wrong with seeking out help and it's actually very brave to take the first step in bettering your life.
You don't need to suffer. You don't need to just "get through" your anxiety. You can start living the life you've always wanted to right now, right at this very moment. So what is holding you back?
I hope this provides a bit of relief for those of you who may be struggling with anxiety on any level. Feel free to dm me on Instagram if you want additional resources or to hear more about my experience.
