Stay Home And Get Reading: Five Self-Care Tips You Can Do To Cope Up With Stress And Anxiety
Move, Jump, Lift, Exercise
Exercise seems like the most daunting word, for someone who hasn’t done it on a regular basis. It might not seem like it, but it might be one of the best ways to combat stress. The best thing about exercise is that is there is a method and technique for everyone. It is okay if you are not someone who wants to lift weights at home or are not able to. You can go for a run, or even a simple jog would suffice. There are so many ways to exercise and several tutorials online that you can follow. The first two to three days might be difficult but once you get a hang of it, it’ll be one of the activities you most look forward to.
Let go of the online world for a moment
How many times do you find yourself reaching for your phone in a day? Or waiting for the next notification from various social media apps. While it is not possible to eliminate mobile devices from our lives, moderating their usage is extremely critical. Reduce the number of social media applications you use; stay on the ones that you need and limit your time on them. If you are spending hours scrolling through online feeds, start small. Reduce by a small amount daily and you will see a considerable reduction in stress and anxiety. Let go of the online world and start living in the real one.
Pick a book
Improved cognition, better sleep, better social skills; these are just a few benefits to reading books but one of the direct benefits is reduced stress and anxiety. Pick a good paperback or even an e-reader and start reading a new book. I would suggest avoiding reading on your smartphone to avoid any distractions. Take an hour off your time and dedicate it to reading a book as often as possible in a week. If possible, read it right before sleep to get the best sleep you can have.
Watch your Diet
Diet might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think about stress and anxiety, but it can be one of the highest impacting factors. Too many of us are used to having processed foods, sugary drinks or their diet alternatives, excessive caffeine and more in our diets. All these can contribute to an increased state of anxiety and hunger. Having fulfilling and healthy meals is key to tackle stress and anxiety. Try to make some new additions to your diet like yoghurt, dark chocolate, green tea and others that are known to reduce stress.
Meditation
Last, the one you have probably heard hundreds of times is of course meditation. It is popular for a reason as it also one of the most effective techniques. If you are someone who has not tried it before, there are many ways to meditate. Whether it is yoga, mindfulness or some fancy new technique. It might take some time to find out what is best suited for you but it’ll be worth it. Having a healthy meditation habit can be one of the best ways to fight off stress and anxiety.
