Did you know that over 18% of adults in America suffer from anxiety? In fact, anxiety is the most common mental illness in the United States.
If you’re among the millions of people who suffer from anxiety in your day-to-day life, you might feel as though you’re at the mercy of your mental illness, but that’s not the case. There are many ways to reduce anxiety that are both easy and effective.
Listed below are a few of the best natural ways to reduce anxiety.
Let’s get started!
Effective Ways to Reduce Anxiety
1. Avoid Procrastination
One of the best tips to reduce anxiety is to avoid procrastination. At the start of every day, make a list of things that you need or want to get done that day, and make a point of doing them all.
Now, don’t be unrealistic with your expectations. Weighing yourself down with 15 things to do in one day will only make your anxiety worse. Instead, limit yourself to three to five achievable tasks per day.
2. Practice Deep Breathing Exercises
Because we spend so much of our time sitting down, many of us don’t breathe nearly as deeply as we should. To combat feelings of anxiety, it’s important to learn to correct this.
When you feel anxiety coming on, focus on your breath. Breathe in through your nose for 10 seconds, hold the air in your stomach, and breathe out slowly. Do this as many times as necessary to feel calm.
3. Get More Exercise
Adequate exercise is not only one of the most beneficial activities for your physical health but your mental health as well. Making an effort to get your body moving every day can make huge positive changes in how you feel.
Aim for 30 minutes a day of structured exercise, but get as much natural movement as you can as well. Take the stairs instead of the elevator, park further from the store, and take periodic walking breaks from work.
4. Consider Supplements
You have to be careful with supplements, as they can react badly with certain preexisting conditions and prescription medications. However, as long as you get the okay from your doctor first, there are a number of anxiety-reducing supplements on the market.
These include green tea, lemon balm, valerian root, kava kava, ashwagandha, and kratom. Never heard of kratom? Learn more about it before making your decision.
5. Try Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy has been used in a variety of treatments for centuries and is highly effective against stress and anxiety. And all you need is some scented candles or an essential oil diffuser to get started!
Different scents provide different benefits, but the following are good for reducing anxiety:
- Rose
- Lavender
- Chamomile
- Frankincense
- Sandalwood
Give These Ways to Reduce Anxiety a Try Today
A bit of anxiety now and then is normal and unavoidable, but there’s no need to suffer through mental anguish on a daily basis. By using these ways to reduce anxiety to your advantage, you can significantly decrease your anxiety levels and feel better in your day-to-day life.
Remember, the best thing you can do is take the best care of your body and mind as you can. You’ll notice the difference in both your mental and physical health right away.
Looking for more tips for improving your mental health? Check out our blog!
