5 Ways to Manage Stress & Anxiety

I don’t know about you but things have been feeling a little weird lately.. you may be feeling anxious or nervous, there are a lot of unknowns right now, you're lacking social interaction and your routines have been disrupted which makes it all more difficult – if you’re anything like me, your routines keep you grounded. Today I am going to share 5 of the strategies I use to help manage stress & anxiety, I will preface by saying these tips are not meant to be a substitute for a professional therapists or medication if required.

1) Journal

Putting pen to paper can be extremely therapeutic, don’t worry about what you're writing just write. Get your thoughts out of your head and onto the page, this not only can feel really cathartic, but it can also help you work through emotions and limiting beliefs, as well as act as a log so you can track what feelings and situations tend to spark anxiety. During times like this, it can be especially helpful to practice gratitude, this changed my perspective on life and increased my resilience. Journaling is is a great way to get started, think of people, things & abilities you are grateful for and write them down-if you're having difficulty try reflecting on what your life would be like without certain things you may take for granted. If you’re subscribed watch your inbox for a free journal prompt workbook!

2) Meditation and Deep Breathing

If you don’t already practice this may seem daunting, and it can be. It was really uncomfortable at first, it takes practice but the good news is there are so many different ways to meditate, tons of apps, resources and guided meditations on Youtube & Spotify. If mediation is not for you definitely do the deep breathing exercises, this is my go to tool, I use it several times per day. There are many different techniques, this article on Healthline outlines 8 to get you started!

3) Get up and Move

Physical activity has a tremendous effect on your mental health, it is a great way to expend excess nervous energy, it increases anti-anxiety neurochemicals like serotonin& GABA and it has been shown to activate frontal regions of the brain responsible for executive function which in turn helps control the amygdala (the part of the brain responsible for triggering a fear or anxiety response). This can be any form of movement you enjoy, regular exercise that increases your heart rate will help build up your resilience to stress but when you’re feeling anxious yoga, or a gentle walk will still be beneficial.

4) Talk to someone you trust

You don’t want to dwell on it, that will only make it worse, but getting stuff of your chest is important, holding on to negative emotions breeds disease. Confide in someone you trust, either ask them to simply listen, or you can try and talk it through constructively, but once you’re through move on. If you don’t feel like talking it out, you can refer back to #1- Journaling. This person can be a friend or family member, or a therapist- there is no shame in seeking professional assistance, and it can be incredibly helpful.

5) Get creative

I will preface this by saying you don’t have to “be creative” or an “artist” to benefit from creative expression! If you have a hobby, set aside time for it, if you don’t, try out different things and see what feels good for you. There are so many creative outlets- singing, dancing, painting, drawing, knitting, photography, baking, cooking, writing, playing an instrument, crafting or scrapbooking- what's your favourite?

I hope these tips help get you through, please reach out via email or social media if you have questions, require additional support or just need someone to talk to. If you haven’t already, don’t forget to subscribe to my mailing list so you don’t miss the journal prompts workbook!

Lots of love,

Jess

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