Anxiety is at an all-time high for so many of us right now.
While COVID-19 and the election seem to be a big reason for all the stress, the reality is so many of us also have to deal with the stressors of our everyday lives.
Between having to juggle our jobs (or not having a job at all), dealing with our families, and navigating friendships, it can often feel like there’s no time to just kick back and relax.
If you’re finding yourself increasingly anxious — or just in need of a break — here are simple ways to practice self-care. Don’t worry, we’ll all get through this together.
Gratitude in the Morning and Evening
One of the best ways to begin and end your day is with gratitude. Keep a notebook by your bed and every morning when you wake up, write down three things you’re grateful for.
You can write down something as simple as “I am grateful for my morning coffee” or “I am grateful to spend time with my best friend.”
Then, before you go to bed, pick up the journal again and write down three things that happened during the day that you’re grateful for.
Again, it can be anything from “I’m grateful I got to hug my mom” to “I’m grateful for the pizza I had for dinner.”
It’s so easy to get bogged down by the constant bad news and depressing stories, but if we take time to focus on the good in our own lives it will improve our perspective.
Put the Phone Away
So many of us have become increasingly more anxious due to our phones. Social media is great for connecting with friends and family, but it can also lead us down a dark path.
Not only do we end up constantly comparing ourselves to the people around us, but we end up thinking our lives are not as good as everyone else’s.
If you’ve been feeling this way for a while, challenge yourself to delete your social media apps for a day. You may feel a little bit of FOMO (fear of missing out) initially, but see how you feel the next day.
In fact, see how long you can go without looking at Instagram or Twitter at all. You may start to notice you’re a happier and less stressed person.
Move Your Body
We all know how important exercise is for our bodies, but we often forget how important it is for our minds.
Exercise helps us to clear our head and to let go of stress, so make sure to incorporate it into your everyday routine.
Put on your favorite music or podcast, go walk outside for 30 minutes, and notice overtime how your body and mind respond to the activity.
Have Something to Look Forward to
Give yourself something to look forward to every single day. This can be anything from planning a lunch with a friend to watching an episode of your favorite show.
As we head towards winter and the days getting shorter, it’s so important to have things in our lives that bring us joy.
If you struggle with having things to look forward to, take out a calendar, and literally plan out a week of fun treats for yourself.
