Nine Ways to Handle Anxiety & Other Life
Survival Tips
The panic attack. Yes, it happens to everyone in some way at some point in the game of life. I know I certainly suffer from bouts of overwhelm and anxiety. That paralyzing moment when I wake up and think of all the mind-boggling things about to take place in my life that day.
As a working mom, author, and multi-business owner, I’ve found that life can be an agonizing trudge through layers of stress… That is if I choose to allow it to be that way. Finding ways to handle anxiety becomes a must-do to survive the week.
Through all the piles of daily tasks Yet, I’ve somehow managed to keep up a certain amount of level-headedness that comes in handy when faced with the hundreds of decisions I make each day. So far, I’ve made ways to conquer this life-crippling disease without turning to medication. Some of these tips you’ve probably heard and might be using. I, for one, can never get enough of reading articles that help me conquer anxiety and certain other phobias I struggle with each day. Each article I read tackles anxiety from a unique perspective since well…we’re all people with a specific set of life toils and troubles, things that happen daily.
So I’m here to share some of those answers to the burning question I get.
Here we go!
1. Exercise.
This one’s first on the list for a reason. It works. Plain and simple. Specifically, yoga for anxiety. People, I’m here to let you know that it does indeed work. I don’t know why yoga heals so many ailments (colds, backache, anxiety, stress) but this ancient form of exercise never ceases to amaze me. Even though I’ve practiced yoga for many years, I’ve only recently begun to make time for it every day. Other great forms of exercise for stress relief include dancercise (Try the Cize program if you don’t believe me) pilates, running, and power walking.
Pick exercises to make you sweat, and yes, that includes Vinyasa yoga. This form of yoga focuses on strength and endurance and has recently grown in popularity for that reason. No matter what type of exercise regimen you choose try to pick something that will work your total body. I’ve experienced the most effective mood lifting results through my workouts.
2. Make a To Do List
I know. You’ve heard this one a million times. Read about the power of making a list of your daily goals. I’ve written about the to-do list in other articles about life balance and organization. Why? Because they work! Easy enough. I create one for work. I have one for all my businesses. I keep all of them stored in this handy little app called Trello which allows me to add notes, videos, and pictures to keep me motivated. I’m not affiliated with Trello in any way. I just wanted to introduce a great method for an interactive to-do list, one that encourages those of us who might not enjoy the idea of muddling through a list of things we need to do that day. Trello makes organization fun.
3. Wake up early and leave the house ahead of time.
This one applies to everything. But it’s a tip I struggle with the most. Especially if one of my greatest sources of anxiety waits for me at my destination. However, the mind’s a powerful muscle. By giving yourself plenty of time to arrive at your job or doctor’s office or wherever you might be headed to, you cut a large part of anxiety that way.
4. Spend time with family and friends.
I’m working on this one. Life pulls us in so many directions and it’s easy to either forget or put off going home every so often. One thing I’ve learned in this lifetime is that people come and go throughout various stages of our toils and troubles. The ones who choose to stick by your side during both the good and the bad should be cherished as though the world might end tomorrow and you’ll never see them again.
5. Listen to music.
What they say about music calming the savage beast is the truth. Tuning into your favorite music station during stressful periods works wonders for the soul.
6. Meditate
I cannot even begin to tell you how much this tip has helped me persevere through some pretty tough times. I wake up in the mornings and almost as soon as I open my eyes, I find hundreds of emails and phone notifications waiting for me. Give yourself some headspace. Don’t wake up and reach for the phone. Take some time to gather your thoughts and complete a guided meditation. Our meditational subscription box Mystikaly launches in June. This box contains all the tools you’ll need to make the most of your morning headspace. Be sure and subscribe to the newsletter so you can stay in the loop.
7. Make time for a favorite hobby.
Turn something a hobby into a passion. For me, that passion is writing. When I published my first novel five years ago, I had NO idea the road I’d chosen would lead me to so many interesting opportunities. I find a certain release in creating characters and bringing their worlds to life and don’t see myself giving that up anytime soon.
8. Take Supplements.
Scientific studies show that a lack of certain vitamins and minerals affects your mood. I’m going to put myself out there as an example and say that when I don’t get enough vitamin D then everyone around me knows it. And I don’t want to be known as that woman. Supplements can be tricky little creatures though. I’d recommend working with a herbalist or nutritionist in finding the best combination/levels of vitamins for your specific needs.
9. Smile…
Even when you don’t want to. This tip works better than you ever thought it would. In fact, smiling tops our list of ways to handle anxiety.
Tell us about a few things that you do to ease your busy mind.
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