5 Things That Help With My Anxiety

Anxiety has been something that I’ve dealt with since my college days. However, during this past year, I’ve had to really take a pause to give myself the care that I absolutely needed. That being said, I wanted to share some of the things that have been helping me lately.

1. Yoga: According to an article on ScienceDaily entitled Yoga shown to improve anxiety, study shows, a study conducted at New York University showed that 54 percent of participants showed improvements of anxiety over a 12-week period of time by using both yoga and CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy). I was prescribed yoga when I first started to have severe panic attacks that caused me to feel dizzy. I now do it nearly every day in the morning, and it allows me to take a much needed pause. One of my favorite ways to do yoga is through the YouTube channel, Yoga with Adriene, which has a ton of videos to choose from.

2. Cardio: I have had a rocky relationship with working out especially over the last year. However, I find that doing cardio workouts, such as Jazzercise on Demand or running, helps clear my mind and gives me endorphins (who remembers Elle Woods saying that exercise makes people happy and happy people don’t kill their husbands in Legally Blonde?) Do I still dread working out in the morning? Yes. However, it puts me in a better mood than if I were to do HIIT.

3. Fresh air: According to an article on the APA website entitled Nutured by Nature, there are several benefits to spending time outside, including cognitive ones. The article says that research has shown that both the sight and sounds of nature have therapeutic benefits. Now, this one is hard to do, especially when I work in an office from 9 to 5. However, I try to get outside whenever I can, whether it’s waiting for the train outside on the platform, walking my dog, or just sitting outside. I always find that even just a small amount of time outside is better than nothing.

4. Putting my peace first: One of the hardest things that I have had to do was learn the word no when I need to. As a chronic people pleaser, I have the natural inclination to say yes to everything — even when it may not be best for me. However, lately I’ve been listening to my body and trying to give it rest when it needs it. It may not be something that everyone wants to hear, however, I know that it’s something that I need to do for me.

5. Making time for the things that I love: Last but certainly not least, I’ve been making time for things that make me happy. My hobbies, reading, music, and even time to just watch a show. I used to work a position that had cut my free time in half. Now that I am no longer in that role, I have the time to do other things that I love. And, that has helped with my mental health so much.