Are you constantly overwhelmed, anxious, and overthinking everything? I want to share some simple but effective tips to help you calm your mind and ease anxiety.
How have you been going?
I hope you are well despite the worries and challenges of life.
It’s not uncommon that certain life stages may cause you to feel more anxious and overwhelmed than usual. For example, a new job search or holidays can trigger your anxiety.
Everyone can feel anxious from time to time. And we know that stress can even play in our favor in certain circumstances.
But if you notice your anxiety levels skyrocketing to the point of disturbing your sleep and causing other serious problems, it’s time to take action.
I want to share some simple but effective tips on calming your mind and easing anxiety that has helped me personally.
Learn to calm your mind
I am the type of person who worries excessively; my mind is too restless, and I often imagine the worst scenarios in any new situation.
Can you relate to me? Unfortunately, I am not an isolated case.
According to the Anxiety & Depression Association of America, more than 40 million adults in the United States suffer from anxiety disorders.
You may think that anxiety has become a regular part of our modern society.
The problem is that anxiety, stress, and overthinking have cumulative adverse effects over time.
Furthermore, they can lead to even more severe mental disorders that will wreak havoc on your well-being and quality of life.
It would help if you learned to incorporate some of these techniques and strategies down below to calm your mind and ease anxiety.
Relax with music
Music has a relaxing effect (depends on the type of music) and helps you generate endorphins that make you feel thrilled and optimistic.
I love listening to the Kygo radio station in Pandora when I work out. Also, I would rather listen to Coldplay, Adele, or Enya for a calmer mood.
Possibly you already know the kind of music that has always helped your mood. Stressful times can be an excellent time to listen to it.
How to connect to your emotions to be happier
Aromatherapy
Applying a few drops of lavender or peppermint essential oil to my wrists has always helped me whenever I feel anxious or nervous.
Other essential oils recommended for anxiety are lemon, chamomile, and sweet orange.
It would be better not to use essential oils directly on the skin. You must dilute some essential oils with a carrier oil such as olive oil or sweet almond oil.
Yoga
Yoga is one of those things I have wanted to learn for a while because of its innumerable benefits.
According to experts, Yoga can help quiet the mind and keep it in tune with your body.
The combination of gentle movements and focused breathing that you practice while doing Yoga helps you relax your body, improve your mood and relieve stress and anxiety.
Another incredible advantage of regularly practicing Yoga is that it helps you cultivate resilience and feel more in control of yourself in uncomfortable situations.
Of course, Yoga is not a definitive cure for anxiety or other mental disorder. But it is undoubtedly worth incorporating as an essential element in a whole more complex anti-anxiety system.
Meditation
I like spending a few minutes practicing my mindfulness meditation combined with breathing exercises.
A few minutes of meditation helps me connect with my thoughts and emotions.
Controlling your mind and emotions is even more critical in stressful moments.
Some people believe that meditation is not for them. However, I think everyone should try to meditate sometime in their life. You might be surprised by its benefits.
I suggest you use Calm and HeadSpace to start on the meditation path. These apps can be handy to cope with anxiety and an overthinking mind.
Physical exercise
Whether you practice Yoga, go for a walk near your house or tackle that elliptical that you had forgotten, physical activity will help you feel good and get a beautiful mood.
You don’t know how to do Yoga but have always wanted to learn? What better time than this to try it?
You can find excellent information and videos for beginners on Pinterest or YouTube.
Reading
There is nothing like reading an excellent book to distract your mind, learn new things, or transport yourself to other times and places.
I tend to go with self-help books, but I must confess that my guilty pleasure is mystery and romance novels.
Journaling
Some time ago, I discovered that journaling helped me calm my thoughts.
I started writing to give my turbulent emotions an outlet when I didn’t want to share them with anyone.
But then I realized that I could write about many things that happened to me, both good and bad. I also learned to keep track of things I was grateful for and write my positive affirmations.
And in the process of writing, I found a sense of peace and well-being that I would like you to discover too.
Connect with friends and loved ones
Do you miss family members or friends who are far from you? You do not have to. A video call will solve it, and in that way, you will be making fun of the distancing somehow while spending a loving time reinforcing your connections.
Netflix marathon
I’m not very fond of TV, but I must admit that Netflix has spectacular content in new series that can keep you trapped for hours. This strategy may seem a bit dodgy, but it will help calm an overthinking mind.
Just make sure you choose a relaxing and fun TV show rather than another option that makes you more anxious.
Breathing exercises
Deep breathing is one of the best-known relaxation techniques recommended by experts.
Breathing exercises will help you relax a vital nerve that runs from the diaphragm to the brain and sends a message to the whole body to loosen up. Watch this video to know how to start applying breathing techniques.
Relax in nature
Connecting with nature is one of the best ways to reduce anxiety and stress. And no, you don’t need to break the bank to go on vacation to a Caribbean beach.
A simple walk in the park or the mountains can work wonders on your nervous system, helping calm your mind and ease anxiety.
I encourage you to stay busy, entertained, and always looking for ways to help you have a positive frame of mind. Your mind and body will thank you.
And remember, your mental and emotional health is always a priority!