Stress and anxiety are integral parts of our life. Work, family issues, health concerns and financial problems are parts of our daily life. All these stressors contribute to high levels of stress and anxiety.
Stress and anxiety can increase your risk of health conditions, including heart disease and anxiety disorders. Sometimes anxiety could be so high that it transforms into depression.
Here are some natural ways you can incorporate into your daily life to fight anxiety and stress:
Adapt regular exercising
Exercising regularly is the best possible way to fight stress and anxiety naturally. When you are stressed, your body produces stress hormones, including cortisol, whereas when you exercise regularly, happy hormones are produced, like dopamine and adrenaline. A happy mood always helps you to fight stress naturally. Exercise 4-5 days a week to keep your mood happy and healthy.
Good nutrition
What you eat matters a lot for both your physical health and mental health. Magnesium and vitamin B are considered good for regulating stress and mood. Eating whole food and minimising intake of processed foods improves your resilience to stress. Vegetables, fruits, beans, fish and nuts are some examples of whole food.
Spend time with family and friends
During stressful times, what you need most is social support from your family and friends. This will help you with stressful times and cope with stress. Feeling lonely could lead you to get into depression. Joining a club or group activity class helps you to get a social support system and it is important for your overall mental health.
Practice mindfulness
Being in the present is important for every individual. Practising mindfulness anchors your attention to the present moment. Meditation is the best mindful practice that you can try to tackle your stress. Meditation even for a shorter period may help you elevate your mood and decrease symptoms of stress and anxiety.
Spend time in nature
Nature is the best medicine. Spending time with nature helps you to fight stress. Being in nature and spending time in green spaces are healthy ways to manage stress. Hiking and camping are the best ways but many people don’t have access to all such activities. You can go out to green spaces such as local parks, arboretums, and botanical gardens.
Limit your gadget time
Smartphones, laptops, televisions and tablets are an integral part of your daily life. While all these gadgets are necessary, using them too often may increase stress levels. People who spend too much time in front of screens have lower psychological well-being and higher stress levels. Additionally, It also negatively affects sleep which may also lead to anxiety and stress.
Self-care is the key
Self-care is the best practice that you can do to fight the stress of your daily life. Going for a walk outside, reading a good book, exercising, getting a massage, practising a hobby and doing yoga are some activities that you can include in your daily life. Using a diffuser with a calming scent is also helpful.
Journalising
Journalising is the practice of writing your day-to-day activities in a book. Writing down anything good or bad that happens throughout the day provides a positive outlet for your thoughts and emotions. As an alternative, if you prefer to write in an expressive, targeted manner, try a guided journal.
Conclusion
Although stress is unavoidable, chronic stress negatively affects your physical and mental health. Incorporating some daily activities can help you reduce stress and improve your overall psychological well-being. Exercise, meditation, social support, limiting the digital world and being active with nature are some effective methods to fight anxiety and stress.
