Anxiety can be debilitating, but it doesn’t get the final say on whether or not you have a good day, today!
Here are a few easy things you can do to kick anxiety in the butt and help take the edge off. Get through today on your terms!
1. Switch to Decaf
Coffee and tea can be comforting beverages to hold in your hand, and smell, but the caffeine in them can have less appealing after-affects. I’m not saying get rid of your favorite drinks altogether, but if you’re having a particularly stressful day, switch to decaf. The less jitters, the better!
2. Talk to Yourself, Nicely.
If Dumbledor can do it, so can you! Talking to yourself in the third person has shown to reduce anxiety, but I will add, that you should do so nicely. Calling yourself an idiot wont improve your mood. If you can laugh at yourself for doing it, that’s even better!
I often talk aloud to myself. I find it extraordinarily useful.
-Albus Dumbledor
3. Comical Physical Outburst.
I know it sounds weird, but sometimes all that pint up energy that builds up behind that wall of anxiety just needs to be let out. Have a spastic dance party, dance like an idiot! Don’t dance well, don’t follow steps, be a one person mosh pit. Let your body expel all the negative tension building up in your neck and shoulders… And dance like that until you laugh at yourself.
4. Make Funny Faces at Yourself in the Mirror.
Again, this is to help you stop taking things too seriously. Make stupid faces at yourself in the mirror until you laugh at yourself. Everything is not lost. Don’t take life too seriously. Even in our darkest times, and in terrible situations, we can’t forget to lighten our hearts to carry the burdens. We have to remind ourselves to laugh, and let things roll off so we can keep moving forward.
5. Stop Micromanaging Yourself!
I get it. I’m a planner, and probably the worst offender when it comes to this.
Lists, and plans can be useful, and they definitely have their place. But if you’re like me, and tend to take this a little too far, leave yourself some wiggle room! Schedule in free time that isn’t predestined for anything specific. Allow for some spontaneity. If you plan too much and try to micromanage, you get to the point where you can’t live up to your own expectations. That sets you up for stress, guilt, and feelings of failure. Leave room for grace!
Bonus:
When all else fails, just yell “Bubbles” in the angriest voice possible. The angrier you say it, the funnier it is.
In short, remind yourself to laugh. Let the laughter hurt your abs and loosen that weight your chest. Stay Positive friends!
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