Do you find yourself reeling from anxiety and marinating in stress whenever you have to run multiple errands involving different locations? Or perhaps your anxiety sets the minute you sit down on your desk and start going through your emails?
Everyone has unique triggers that make them anxious and stressed. Interestingly, what is stressful for some may be excitingly fun for others. For instance, some people find working with mud and clay therapeutic while countless others feel anxious at the mere thought of muddy hands.
It is important to understand that we all experience anxiety and stress, and it all comes down to managing these mental reactions with effective responses. Read on to explore some effective stress-busting tips to reclaim your inner joy.
Understanding & Avoiding Triggers
Understanding what triggers your anxiety or makes you stress is the first step towards devising a coping mechanism. Keeping a stress journal truly helps with this endeavor, especially if you find penning down your emotions helpful and cathartic.
Do you feel anxious in public settings, in dirty and unclean environments, or while managing complex tasks? Do specific people, locations, or activities make you stressed? Avoiding these triggers will help you, but if you cannot avoid the trigger, adopting a rational approach is wise.
Developing Coping Mechanisms
When you cannot avoid situations, people or activities that trigger your anxiety, you must work towards developing healthy and mindful coping mechanisms. For instance, suppose you feel anxious while running multiple errands, stressed by the thought of missing the bus or appointment. In that case, you can practice some breathing exercises and rationalize the situation to repress your fear and stress.
If a particular individual or situation makes you stressed, asserting your boundaries and communicating your discomfort is important. People having trouble asserting themselves or communicating effectively find therapy immensely helpful.
Indulge & Pamper Yourself
Looking after oneself and indulging in one’s guilty pleasures is an age-old trick to unwind and bust off stress. The idea is to find your happy place by indulging in activities and hobbies that bring you pleasure. It doesn’t matter if your hobby isn’t as well-liked as gardening or as smart as solving Sudoku puzzles – indulge yourself in whatever brings you excitement and glee.
For instance, many people find endless pleasure and joy in binge-watching their favorite shows and devouring cheesy treats after a stressful month ends. Likewise, others enjoy tuning into sports championships and indulging in some high-rolling fun at live sports betting platforms like BetFIRST.
Giving yourself fleeting moments of mindless indulgence is a healthy way to combust anxious thoughts and fill your brain with feel-good hormones.
A Stress-Busting Diet
Did you know you could eat your stress away with decadent dark chocolate and leafy green vegetables? Research reveals that essential nutrients like healthy fats, antioxidants, magnesium and selenium help the brain combat anxiety and stress, among other mental health risk factors.
You can also manage stress by strengthening your gut and brain with foods rich in vitamins B and C. You can design a stress-busting diet with whole grains, leafy greens, fatty fish, nuts and seeds, dark chocolate and olive oil.
Final Thoughts
Once you understand your stress triggers and devise healthy coping mechanisms, it all boils to beating anxiety with a mindful and conscious lifestyle. Prioritizing your emotional and mental well-being is just as important as taking care of your body. Besides, if you’re marinating in stress, your body is bound to suffer the toll with glaring physical manifestations.
