5 Tips for Reducing Chronic Worrying and Anxiety by Michael Osland
For many people, anxiety affects their daily lives in a variety of ways. It can limit you to your bed or keep you from being able to enjoy the day. It can even make some of you avoid everyday life tasks, such as work says Michael Osland. I am not a doctor, nor do I play one on TV.
These are some tips that have helped me overcome anxiety and worrying, hopefully some of it you find helpful too!
1- Limit your news intake
When you find yourself with anxious thoughts, take a break from the news to help reduce your worry. Sometimes it is hard to turn off bad news but try focusing on things within your control rather than trying to fix what seems out of reach. We often spend way too much time trying to fix problems or think about them when we could be doing something productive instead.
2- Have a plan ready for every trip/errand you go on
When you find yourself worrying, try to come up with a game plan before every trip. For example if you want to go grocery shopping but always end up leaving unhappy because of the time it takes; write down what you should buy first and then work your timeline around that. This should help cut down on excess stress about how long it is taking you to finish your list.
3- Exercise for 30 minutes daily
Exercise can be one of the best cures for anxiety. I remember when my doctor told me I should start exercising more often, I was shocked! The thought of having to exercise for longer than 5 minutes made me break out in a cold sweat. But gradually over time, my resistance began to decrease and is now a daily routine for me. I have had more energy, have been able to be more productive and am much happier as a result explains Michael Osland.
4- Learn how to say no
Many of us struggle with saying no because we either don’t want to let others down or we don’t like the idea of making someone else angry. Learning how to say no can help reduce stress levels and anxiety especially when you are feeling overwhelmed with responsibilities. Make your life easier by learning how to manage your time better; this shows lack of interest and is likely going to make people think twice about asking you again in the future anyway!
5- Try not thinking about something that causes worry
This may sound obvious but many of us find it hard not thinking about things that have caused us to worry in the past. I know, I am horrible at it as well! But whenever those thoughts creep into your mind, take a minute and think “Is this really worth my time?” Chances are you will find that they aren’t as important as you thought they were which means you can move on with your day without adding unnecessary stress to yourself.
I hope these tips help some of you out there struggling with anxiety! It is so easy for things we don’t particularly enjoy to become a habit or a part of our daily lives but sometimes we need a reminder that there is more to life than spending hours worrying about something. The more we try not doing things that cause us stress; the easier it becomes to not do them at all says Michael Osland.
Conclusion:
We all know then end of the year holidays tend to cause us to spend more money than we should. However, thanks to consumerism and capitalism it is hard for us to resist making a purchase when we see an amazing deal (especially myself). And while I hate having credit card debt, there are times when shopping were needed. The key is not to go crazy. When you are planning on making a purchase, make sure it is something that will be practical or things that will last you longer than a week. Another way to save money this holiday shopping season is to always check the clearance section at retailers before purchasing an item at full price! No one wants to spend hours looking for a bargain but this will save you big bucks in the long run.