If you struggle with feeling anxious that’s okay! Here are some tips on handling those feelings in a healthy way.
Did you know that April is stress awareness month? Yeah, me neither, until recently that it. And I love it!
I love that mental health is becoming such a huge topic! Why? Because I have always struggled with maintaining a healthy and positive outlook on life. I have always struggled with anxiety and depression and that is why I have made it a focus of mine in life to put forth those positive vibes.
It’s said often that those that hurt the worst are the nicest to others. Every single time I think of that I think of Robin Williams. Man, if I could have met only one person in my life, it might have been him. He was so kind and always made everyone smile, that’s always what you read about him. And yet, those closest to him describe his lifelong struggles with feeling happy. And, unfortunately, we know how his story ended.
I just want you to know that there is more to life than those negative feelings if you just choose to focus on the positivity. It’s not always easy, but it is always worth it. Here are some of the things that help me the most!
Take Care of YOU!
I’m not sure about you but when I feel anxious and depressed it’s hard to eat, sleep, or do much of anything. Those negative feelings tend to suck all of the joy out of life. But I also know once I let those feelings take the steering wheel, they do. And then they don’t like to let go.
Taking care of yourself can be something as simple as closing your eyes at night and trying to get some sleep instead of continuing to obsess. That was always what I did, and I’ve mentioned that as a restaurant worker most of my life, getting out late obsessing was about all I could do. There wasn’t anything open anymore, and I couldn’t wind down.
So I came up with some night-time affirmations and I used some essential oils that kind of helped trick my brain into relaxing. I started using crystals to channel my negative emotions into. And of course I read thousands of romance novels to help ease my mind. Sometimes I would drink herbal tea, and I’ve been known to knit and crochet (before kids) as a way to relax.
Those are some of the simplest things you can do because they don’t require any energy. I understand how sapped you can feel when you’re anxious but those ways just helped me channel my negative emotions into a different, healthier, channel instead of obsessing.
When you’re feeling a little less anxious get outside!
I know that you have to take baby steps. If all you do is drink a glass of water that day, pat yourself on the back for that! And when you’re feeling a little braver, try to get outside and get fresh air. Depending on where you live, getting outside can be really relaxing, but I highly recommend trying to get some greenery!
If you are physically capable, I hope that you exercise! Even if you’re not, there are some activities that can get your blood flowing and release those happy brain chemicals. When you get stuck in the anxious cycle, it can take a long time to pull yourself out. But the more you practice these healthy habits the more likely they are to stick!
Create a healthy routine of sunshine, water, and exercise. Imagine yourself like a plant, you need all of those things to thrive, without them you will wilt!
Create the cycle of goodness!
Once you learn how to take those small steps, you can do them regularly, you can add to them. It’s why you start as a kid learning your letters before you learn to read, the other way wouldn’t make sense. Create those small wins daily and then you will be able to create bigger wins later on! And stay off of social media if you need a break, it’s good to get a detox sometimes!
The most important foundation to establish in my opinion is learning to love yourself. Yes, you, you anxious mess! All of the good, bad, and ugly parts of you. Practice gratitude for any little thing that you have, whatever you’re reading this on, the air you breathe. Anything at all! Use daily affirmations to help pull you up when you start falling down. Practice watering you like you would care for a plant.
Once you build that foundation start dreaming bigger! You weren’t put on this earth to play small! What in your life do you know you need to change? What would you like to change? Take the same idea and start small, do one hard thing every day until you can move onto the next small thing. And then you’ll have a whole host of small things that might add up to a big thing!
You are the creator of your life! The author, the artist, you have the steering wheels in your hands.
Do you want to remember an anxious life filled with ‘should’ve, could’ve and would’ve’? No! Go out there and live your life to the fullest!
Grab my Mindset Mastery Guide to help you when you need a boost. Here’s to your best life, friend.
These are great tips, and a good reminder that we need to take care of ourselves if we want to feel good in our own skin.