As we are still adjusting to our new normal, it is super important for us to learn how to relieve stress and anxiety in order to cope on a daily basis.
Transitioning from face-to-face classes to online learning setup became a challenge for me at the beginning of the pandemic. Thankfully, I learned to manage my stress and anxiety as I keep going and facing these changes.
Today, in this blog post, I want to share some tips I learned on how to relieve stress and anxiety. Also, I will be giving some thought-provoking questions for you to clear your mind and cope with your anxious thoughts.
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Causes of Stress and Anxiety
Sometimes, we get triggered by events that are happening in our lives which causes our stress and anxiety. These happenings could be the following:
1. Big events/changes
Changes such as moving to a new apartment or university, and big events such as taking exams can cause stress and anxiety. As humans, we get worried and afraid of unusual experiences and that gives us anxious thoughts and stress.
2. Uncertainty
Times of uncertainty also gives us stress and anxiety. When a situation makes us feel like we are not in control and prepared for the future, that contributes to our worries, fear, and anxiety.
3. Overwhelm/being under pressure
Being overwhelmed and facing too much pressure can cause anxiety too. Experiencing intense emotions and being tightly pressed into something affects our ability to think clearly which triggers stress and anxiety.
5 Ways to Relieve Stress and Anxiety
“Taking care of yourself doesn’t mean, ‘me first’. It means, ‘me, too’.
No matter what your current situation is, your feelings and emotions are all valid. Taking care of yourself and checking in with your mental health is a way to give yourself much-needed love and support. Here are some tips on how to relieve stress and anxiety:
1. Take a break
Taking a break is so important for your mind and body. You see, even your laptop or other device needs to take a break when you’re using it regularly. Taking a day off from everything can be so beneficial to relieve your stress and anxiety.
Rest is also important to help you restore your energy to life. I shared in this blog post a lot of tips and resources to help you get back on track and hit the reset button. Read more.
2. Practice breathing exercises
The next tip on how to relieve stress and anxiety is by practicing some breathing exercises. One of the breathing exercises that helped me a lot is the 4-7-8 breathing. It is probably one of my favorites because it’s super simple yet very calming and grounding.
Watch this 5-minute video from the YouTube Channel Take A Deep Breath to guide you:
3. Eat healthy foods
An article written by Kalah Siegel which was medically reviewed by Kelly Kennedy, RDN says that unhealthy eating patterns increase our stress levels. When we are stressed and dealing with anxiety, that is the time when need to take care of our body even more by eating whole foods rather than processed foods.
In that same article I mentioned, Siegel also suggested eating dark chocolate to reduce stress. So go ahead and replace your bag of chips with high-quality dark chocolate while binge-watching your favorite Netflix show! (ah, that sounds so relaxing!)
4. Talk to someone
My fourth tip on how to relieve stress and anxiety is to reach out to a friend or relative. Talking to someone helps you release the thoughts that are bothering you and help you face them with a brand new perspective.
5. Keep a journal
Lastly, keeping a journal is another way to help you relieve stress and anxiety. In one study published in 2018, researchers found out that distressed patients with medical conditions had “less depressive symptoms and anxiety after 1 month and greater resilience after the first and second month” of journaling.
Read next:
Journal Prompts for Anxiety and Stress
Journaling regularly can be a huge help to take care of your mental health. Here are 15 thought-provoking journaling prompts to relieve your stress and anxiety:
- What triggers my stress and anxiety?
- What activities make me calm? Why?
- What are the five things that made me smile today?
- My perfect day looks like…
- What are the things I can control and what are the things I cannot control?|
- How can I let go of what I can’t control?
- I forgive myself for…
- Am I struggling to say “no”? When was the last time I wish I refused to do something?
- What does “peaceful and calm mind” means to me? How can I achieve this state of mind?
- Is my first thought after waking up in the morning a negative or positive one? How can I start my day with a positive and clear mind?
- What are some things I look forward to every day?
- What is the best reward I can give myself? Why?
- What is one thing I want myself to remember in times of uncertainty?
- How do I feel about my present situation? What lessons this situation is trying to teach me?
- When was the last time I felt truly accomplished? What made me feel this way?
Last words on how to relieve stress and anxiety….
Huge events and changes such as transitioning from face-to-face classes to online classes can cause stress and anxiety. Taking a break is the first important thing to do if you find it difficult to handle your stress. It is also beneficial to learn some breathing exercises.
When in times of stress and anxiety, it’s important to maintain healthy eating patterns. Don’t hesitate to reach out and talk to a friend or relative if you’re experiencing stress and anxiety. Keeping a journal is a simple yet powerful way to relieve stress and anxiety.
What are your healthy ways to cope with stress and anxiety? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Jocelyn is a coffee lover who believes that a bad day with coffee is better than a good day without it. You can find her obsessing over stationery, hanging out with her cat, or singing her favorite Taylor Swift songs.