Are you anxious, stressed out, and feeling too overwhelmed?
You are not alone. I can’t tell you how much stress and anxiety this year has caused me.
This year has been an eye-opening experience. It reminded me of how fast things can change and that regardless of how hard I try to plan every detail of my life — life can still always take you on unexpected bumps and twists and put you in situations that are out of your control.
When things get too overwhelming for us, and when we’re faced with unpredictable circumstances that are out of our control stress and anxiety can easily take over.
If you’re feeling this way, please know that what you’re feeling right now is valid. It’s okay to be anxious and stressed.
It’s okay to cry. To vent out.
I can’t tell how many times I cry in the shower these days and how many nights I cried myself to sleep because of things becoming too overbearing and stressful.
But I realized that I can’t let stress and anxiety paralyze me from moving forward, regardless of how difficult the situation is now, I have to find a way to manage stress, calm my anxious mind and still take care of my mental health.
And I would like to share these with you too. Here are some ways I manage stress and anxiety — I’m hoping that some of these tips will help you out during difficult times.
12 Simple ways to relieve stress and anxiety
Meditate – Yes, meditation. I was very skeptical of meditation before because I didn’t know if I can empty my mind. But the thing I realize is, meditation is not about emptying your mind, it’s about letting your thoughts come and go without letting yourself hold on to them.
Journal – Journaling is not only a great tool in helping you connect with yourself but it is also very therapeutic. It helps you pour out your thoughts and worries and will help you see the situation from a different perspective.
Be present and mindful — often, when stress takes over, we already have a lot of different bad scenarios running in our minds. The key here is to not let your worries sweep you away. When you start to worry about something in the past or something that may or may not happen in the future, bring yourself back to the present moment. Train your mind to come back.
Accept the fact that you cannot control everything.
Allow yourself to spend some time alone and unplug.
Start your day with positive affirmations.
Practice self-care — when we get too caught up with work or with our problems, we often forget to check-in and take care of ourselves. Don’t be afraid to take a break and make time for your needs.
Practice daily gratitude.
Be kind to yourself — it’s okay to fail. It’s okay to make mistakes. You’re doing great. Learn to be gentle with yourself.
Breathe mindfully – when you start to feel stress or anxious, focus on your breathing. Take a few deep breaths.
Acknowledge what you’re feeling and don’t be afraid to talk about it to someone.
Take a mindful walk
These are just some of the tips that helped me out and I’m hoping that some of these tips will help you out too.
There are still so many more tips available out there! The key here is to find something that works for you.
You got this!