1. Go on a walk:
If you don’t feel like or don’t have time to go to the gym, going on a walk can be just as effective, since physical activity stimulates your brain and releases endorphins.
2. Make a to-do list:
Create a list by breaking down the things that you have to do down into smaller tasks. For example, you can break “do my homework” down into “read history article, take notes on article, type out notes, and write a final summary” in order to make the task seem less daunting and more feasible.
3. Imagine yourself spooning out such a beautiful little scoop of peanut butter:
Seriously though – whoa.
4. Now look at this cute little guy celebrating his birthday:
5. Ok now – deep breath – remind yourself you’ve felt this way before:
Remind yourself that you have experienced this feeling before and have survived it. Think to yourself, “If I overcame this feeling that time, I know I can overcome it this time” – you will find comfort in this thought :)
6. Listen to music:
Listening to music can help distract you from your feelings of anxiety, help relax your mind, and decrease your overall awareness of your feelings. Choose a playlist or a song that relaxes or entertains you.
7. Call a friend:
Reaching out to a friend and expressing how you feel can be extremely helpful when you’re feeling anxious. It’s important that your friends are aware of what you’re going through and what you need from them. Trust me, I know it’s scary to talk about mental health, but these vulnerable moments are the ones in which you need your friends most. It has also been proven that socializing releases oxytocin, the love hormone, which can ultimately help you to feel less anxious and more positive.
8. Write in a journal:
Write all of the anxiety-provoking things and scenarios that are going on in your head down in a journal or on a piece of paper. Getting everything out is significantly better than holding onto your thoughts and letting them cultivate any further.
9. Now take a quick look at these two, perfect best friends and smile:
10. Think about yourself in the third person:
Studies have proven that thinking about and even talking about yourself in the third person may help to lower your anxiety levels. Although this technique might sound silly or awkward at first, this third person perspective will lend you the psychological space to regain your self-control and find that level-headed, sensible voice within you.
11. Ground yourself by making obvious observations about your surroundings:
Making observations about the world around you like “that house is pretty,” “tomorrow is Friday, or “I love that woman’s shirt” can help you to ground yourself – these subtle observations cause you to focus on things that are not your anxiety.
12. Draw a picture and add to it every time you are feeling anxious:
13. Embrace your anxiety:
Because we ALL get anxious sometimes – you are human after all.
Images courtesy of: npr.org, goodhousekeeping.com, weclipart.com, defyagingsolutions.com, success.com, barkpost.com, alamy.com, cafedeclic.com, wallstreetenglish.com.ar, media.giphy.com