Tips for coping with anxiety.
We all feel anxious from time to time. Anticipating a trip, critical presentation,
performance review or important event – even a change in work habits – can
trigger it. How you manage those feelings can go a long way toward moving
you past them and into a more productive headspace.
Here are some key tactics for tackling anxiety:
Change up your thinking. Anxiety can produce negative thoughts that fester in
your mind and create the impression of a situation far worse than it is.
Imagining the worst possible outcomes and creating nightmare scenarios are a waste of mental energy. Instead, challenge your fears and take a hard look at
how you’re thinking about something: Is it accurate?
Remind yourself of your abilities. One root cause of anxiety is self-doubt.
Remember, you’re a capable person who’s experienced quite a lot. No matter
what arises, you actually will be able to handle it.
Work that breath. Hit pause on the whirlwind in your mind by taking a series of
deep breaths and trying to elongate each one. Count across your inhalations
and exhalations to encourage your mind to focus. Just evening out your
breath can slow your heart rate and get your body out of stress mode.
Get physical. Taking a short walk or short yoga session really boosts your
mood and physically removes you from whatever is causing your anxiety.
Focus on what you’re doing and try to be present in the moment: How does
the stretch feel or how does the air smell along the footpath?
Write it down. Journaling can be an excellent way to get your thoughts in
order. Making lists of what you can control, what you’re grateful for or what
the positives are can help change your mindset and make you feel more
empowered. Even the act of writing can be calming for some of us.
Seek out socializing. Isolation can often increase feelings of anxiousness;
make sure you're staying connected with folks who make you feel supported.
When things get hectic, it’s easy to forget how much better you often feel after
a short call with a loved one. Give yourself that time.
Think a happy thought. Redirect your mind to get it off the anxiety treadmill,
even for a moment. Focus intently on something really good in your life: A loved one, a hilarious joke, an amazing night out, a pet, a recent holiday,
anything that immediately makes you smile.
In the longer term, ensuring your habits are healthy ones can really help ward
off excess anxiety or keep it manageable when it crops up. Here’s to feeling
good!