The Calming Water Projector creates a calm environment to help reduce anxiety.
Could you use some anxiety relief tips? It’s one of the most Googled topics today; 'ways to manage anxiety'. We’re all anxious and it’s silly, because the more technology that’s developed to ease our lifestyles, the more anxious we've become. It’s not just technology that is to blame; there are a lot of pressures on us, on parents, on teachers, on teens and on kids. Indeed, an equally popular search term is actually 'how to reduce anxiety in kids'. Seemingly, no one is safe from anxiety!
So, what are the ways to reduce anxiety? Firstly, you need to look at the source. While some anxiety is self-induced, more often than not there are external forces at play, such as tension in the home, relationship problems, over-scheduling, peer-pressure, academic pressure, and so forth. It is well worth taking a step back and assessing your personal situation. If you need assistance, a good therapist or social worker can be of tremendous help in getting down to your anxiety's root cause, and helping you to develop a more balanced lifestyle. Therapy aside, there are several strategies you can implement yourself, which have also proven to be incredibly helpful. Keep reading for our top anxiety relief tips!
Make sure you are getting plenty of movement and exercise on a daily basis. A 20-minute walk, a bike ride, an exercise class, or a jog will get your heart rate up and your adrenaline pumping. Releasing endorphins will be a positive side effect of a great exercise schedule. It's no wonder exercise is one of the most popular and often recommended ways to manage anxiety!
Deep breathing, yoga, playing a wind instrument, singing, and blowing bubbles can all increase respiration and induce calm. By regulating your breathing pattern, you can literally blow off hot steam and change the chemistry in your body to relieve anxiety.
Getting proper nutrition is crucial to keeping anxiety at bay. Foods that raise and lower blood sugars will inherently cause more mood swings and incite anxiety. Take a close look at your daily diet, including snacks, and improve where you can. We're not saying to cut out treats completely (these can provide their own anxiety-reducing happiness), but there may be some unhealthy habits you can reign in, and reap the rewards of doing so!
Now that we've talked culinary diet, are you getting a proper sensory diet? Consider consulting your local occupational therapist to be sure all your senses are getting the right 'nutrition' they require. This includes good lighting, quality sound, soothing textures and a good dose of aromatherapy. A great sensory diet can be as important as a healthy food diet.
Relieve anxiety through calming essential oils, like lavender and lemon.
Where does your soul go when you’re alone? What’s your creative outlet? If you think you don’t have one, we can assure you you do; you just haven't found it yet! Consider trying cooking, writing, drawing, art, or woodworking, to name a few. You don’t have to over-schedule yourself, but perhaps there’s a class at the local library or art center, just to get you started.
Fido can be the best cure for an over-stressed individual. Pets can lower your blood pressure and provide unconditional love and attention. Don’t love dogs or cats? Try a lizard, bird, or guinea pig. And if a real pet is too much responsibility, we'd highly recommend Perfect Petzzz®, which allow you to reap the de-stressing benefits of a furry friend, without the commitment.
Make sure you have a good structural system in place, whether that's a daily schedule, visual reminders, or simply the use of a timer or alarm clock. Good structure can massively relieve stress related to scheduling. A dry erase board is a great place to keep a schedule visible for everyone to use.
We all need to find a happy place and play isn't just for children. Teens, adults, and seniors need and crave play. It provides a sense of joy, encourages creativity, and gives our stressed-out minds a break from daily woes.
Soft floor pads are great for facilitating anxiety-relieving play among kids.
So whether you use these tips to reduce anxiety in yourself, or pass them along to somebody experiencing severe anxiety, try implementing one or two strategies and see how each one effects mood, personality, and your goal in reducing anxiety.
Keep reading our blog for more helpful tips and useful information, like our top anger management strategies, and how to improve attention span via mindfulness.