Tips to manage stress & anxiety

I know last month, DiveIn Network focused on mental health and even though May is over I thought it would still be interesting to list a few ideas on how to manage stress and anxiety based on my experience.

I know not every idea will work for everyone, but if you are someone who struggles with finding ways to ease their stress levels, there is certainly no harm in trying a few things on my list. Who knows! You just might find something that might work for you.

I know many websites mention eating a balanced diet, getting enough sleep, exercise and meditating which are all good ideas but I have found these 4 methods to be extremely helpful for me.

Laugh

They say laughter is the medicine and I absolutely agree with that!! All the times I was worried or stressed about something, I found that laughing actually relaxed me and helped me not to overthink everything and really just get outside my head for a bit. So depending on where I am, I like to find funny videos on TikTok to make me laugh or if I’m at home, I watch an episode of Friends or Two and a half men or listen to my favourite podcast that’s just always filled with laughs and stories, and more than not, it helps! Now obviously not everyone may be a fan of Friends or Two and a half men, but I’m sure you know what makes you laugh. So spend 10-20 minutes listening to or watching something that makes you laugh. You will feel light-hearted afterwards and you will find yourself more relaxed and in a better position to deal with what is stressing you or causing your anxiety.

Write what you feeling

This may not work for everyone but it definitely works for me. I have always been able to express myself better on paper and so when something is bothering me. Writing down what is bothering me, why it’s bothering and how it is affecting me really helps me deal with all the anxiety. Usually, by the time I’m done, I feel lighter like I have let go of a heavy load. One of the reasons I enjoy writing things down is because when whatever is bothering me is in my head, it feels like it’s holding me hostage until I put it out there. I guess it’s like how you sometimes feel better when you tell someone something that’s bothering you. Verbally saying it or writing it down helps you process it at the same time! Which is something you can also do, verbally expressing what is stressing you, even if it’s to yourself. It just might work!

Work with your hands

I have always found it therapeutic to work with my hands. There is something about it that gives you a sense of comfort. I like to think it’s because you get some sense of control out of it. So you can work on a DIY project, learn or play an instrument, take on gardening or even do something as simple as ironing. I’m not necessarily a big fan of ironing but I know people who start cleaning and ironing as a way to deal with anxiety and it works for them. Even any form of exercise will do!

Listen to music

We all know that music has the power to make us feel different kinds of emotions. I know a lot of people including myself have a playlist for almost everything. A playlist for when you are at the gym, getting over heartbreak, getting ready to go out with friends, cleaning etc. The list is endless! So why not create a playlist that will cheer you up. When I do this, I tend to start with music that kind of describes how I’m feeling but I always end up moving towards something more upbeat than either makes me dance or just makes me move my head to the beat. By the time my head is moving to the beat, I’m in a more relaxed state of mind.

Sometimes all we need is something that le’s us get outside our head and not think so much for a bit to relax.

That’s it! Those are my tips for managing stress and anxiety. I hope you choose something that works for you.