This year, we can all agree, has been very stressful and has caused some anxiety and stress. There have been so many changes to our daily lives, from having to start online classes, working from home, quarantining and more. Luckily, there are things people can do to relieve stress or ease their anxiety.
Here are 5 ways to help keep calm during this time:
1. Stress balls: The act of repeatedly squeezing a stress ball helps release tension and relieve stress. Stress balls are also used as a tool for meditation.
2. Visualization: Eyes closed and body relaxed, picture a calm environment and work through a stressful or anxiety inducing situation. When staying calm and focused, one can create a mental image of themselves they can come back to whenever feeling stressed or anxious in the future. Visualization can be grounding in that way.
3. Listen to music: Grab a pair of headphones and blast some tunes! Playing the right melody can actually help lower one’s heart rate and therefore decrease stress hormones in the body. Consider playing a few of today’s hits when feeling overwhelmed.
4. Find the right temperature: A room’s temperature can affect stress and anxiety. Being too warm, feeling stuffy, or getting the chills all can make someone feel tense. One can create a more comfortable workspace by bundling up in a cozy sweater and socks when it’s too cold or cracking the window when it gets too warm.
Pro tip: Invest in a humidifier to keep the air from getting dry! Be even more of a pro by adding a few drops of essential oils in the humidifier; scents such as lavender and chamomile are known to help calm the body.
5. Fuel your body: Being hungry or not properly hydrated leaves the body feeling tired and unable to focus. A couple ways to prevent this fatigue would be having a reusable water bottle full at one’s desk and keeping healthy snacks* around.
*Some healthy snack ideas: almonds, apple slices, carrots, or greek yogurt.
These 5 ways are only a handful of things people do to help with their stress or anxiety. Hopefully this list will serve as a guide to those needing a reminder or those who are new to this.
Comment below some other ways people can relieve their stress and anxiety!
-Lindsay White
Here are 5 ways to help keep calm during this time:
1. Stress balls: The act of repeatedly squeezing a stress ball helps release tension and relieve stress. Stress balls are also used as a tool for meditation.
2. Visualization: Eyes closed and body relaxed, picture a calm environment and work through a stressful or anxiety inducing situation. When staying calm and focused, one can create a mental image of themselves they can come back to whenever feeling stressed or anxious in the future. Visualization can be grounding in that way.
3. Listen to music: Grab a pair of headphones and blast some tunes! Playing the right melody can actually help lower one’s heart rate and therefore decrease stress hormones in the body. Consider playing a few of today’s hits when feeling overwhelmed.
4. Find the right temperature: A room’s temperature can affect stress and anxiety. Being too warm, feeling stuffy, or getting the chills all can make someone feel tense. One can create a more comfortable workspace by bundling up in a cozy sweater and socks when it’s too cold or cracking the window when it gets too warm.
Pro tip: Invest in a humidifier to keep the air from getting dry! Be even more of a pro by adding a few drops of essential oils in the humidifier; scents such as lavender and chamomile are known to help calm the body.
5. Fuel your body: Being hungry or not properly hydrated leaves the body feeling tired and unable to focus. A couple ways to prevent this fatigue would be having a reusable water bottle full at one’s desk and keeping healthy snacks* around.
*Some healthy snack ideas: almonds, apple slices, carrots, or greek yogurt.
These 5 ways are only a handful of things people do to help with their stress or anxiety. Hopefully this list will serve as a guide to those needing a reminder or those who are new to this.
Comment below some other ways people can relieve their stress and anxiety!
-Lindsay White