Millions of people worldwide live with anxiety, and they may not even be aware of it. Despite all the medical advancements we have achieved, mental health and anxiety still make people uncomfortable.
Media portrayals of disorders haven’t helped as well, and many people may not notice that what they feel daily is untreated anxiety. Anxieties and stress can be triggered by everything from work issues to personal problems and when left unchecked can make one spiral. It could even affect your physical health. Your fears could even manifest as medical and dental anxiety and prevent you from going to a doctor or dental clinic.
Anxiety is the brain’s way of telling us that we are overwhelmed and that we need to slow down a bit. Of course, it’s impossible to stop worrying about things, nor should we stop worrying. But too much stress and anxiety can morph can turn into a real physical and mental condition. Some people even use dangerous substances to quell the emotional weight of unchecked stress.
To help you calm your stress-addled brain, we’ve put together a list of positive changes you could incorporate into your lifestyle to keep your anxieties at bay.
1. Prioritize your well-being
Prioritizing your well-being isn’t selfishness. It’s okay to be put yourself first in times of stress. You can’t be your best self if you keep putting the needs of others over your well-being. You’ll only feel worse for delaying the care you need to give yourself. Managing your mental well-being must be your priority. When was the last time you took a self-care day? If you can’t answer that, then maybe you might need one more.
Simple acts to treat yourself during a mental health care day can include anything that enriches your mind and soul. Love knitting? Spend a day working on a sweater with a cup of tea while listening to a crime podcast. Take a walk and look up at the sky, watch the trees sway overhead, and get yourself some ice cream. Activities that put you at ease and won’t break the bank will help you relax your mind.
2. Be mindful of your expenses
A big stressor nowadays is the state of our finances. With the economy in tatters, most people are just a sickness away from poverty. Worrying about financial hardships can drive anyone up the wall with anxiety, so it’s wise to mind where your money goes.
Take a look at your records and transactions and see which ones you can wean yourself off of. Is an expensive cup of coffee a reasonable expense? Try to cut out your “want” expenditures. Set a daily budget for yourself and stick to it.
3. Embrace a clutter-free lifestyle
Imagine driving home after a long day’s work, only to be greeted by the sight of mess and clutter. Instead of relaxing, your stress and anxiety are exacerbated. Clutter is a visual representation of how overwhelmed you are, and the difficulty of moving around a messy home will only frustrate you.
Start by decluttering your home one room at a time, and throw out what you don’t need. Holding on to things that have long since stopped serving their original purpose won’t help you and only add to the mess.
Your goal is to reduce the number of things you own to make your home cleaner and clearer. Decluttering is also a way to ease your mind into letting go of your worries in a physical sense. When you’re done, you’ll feel so much lighter.
4. Avoid caffeinated and sugary drinks
Sure, caffeinated drinks like coffee and soda will give you the zap of energy you need, but too much of it can make you crash hard. An abundance of caffeine in your system can speed up your heart rate to an unhealthy rate, and your worries may seem magnified, making you feel worse. When you’re anxious about many things, you might want to cut back on these kinds of drinks.
The high sugar content in soda can also cause tooth damage, so make sure to minimize or eliminate these beverages from your diet. Too much of a good thing is bound to become bad for you, so it would be best to drink these beverages in moderation.
A final word
Life is already hard enough without dealing with anxiety, and it feels like you’re living with an invisible handicap. But these lifestyle changes can help you alleviate the stress of living through such uncertain times. When life becomes unbearable, please don’t be afraid to seek the help of a licensed professional.
