This is a crazy time. I think no matter who you are, you’ve probably had your moments of anxiety, fear and complete uncertainty. Sometimes, when I wake up in the morning I have to think for a second and wonder if the world is truly still upside down. It certainly feels like that many days. These are 5 days ways to manage your anxiety that have worked for me lately.
Pre-Covid-19 Anxiety Levels
I will start by saying that before COVID-19 hit and everything that’s happened since then, like most people, I had anxiety. Looking back it involved mostly anxiety about my kids and their well-being, as well as work related stuff. For the most part I was able to manage it pretty well with my profession at MaZi Dance Fitness. Being scheduled to teach and workout is truly a blessing because like most people, many times I don’t feel like it! However when I do, I always better.
Now, although I’m still scheduled to teach a lot and get to workout, we’re all facing new things we didn’t think about before. Add to that the division that’s come along with how to move forward with COVID-19 as a society, etc. and it’s pretty rough! Many of my own family and friends have divergent opinions on what they’re comfortable with and not comfortable with at this point in time. All of this doesn’t help with calming feelings of acute anxiety!
What I’m doing now to help de-stress
As I right this, I’m in Hawaii on an extended family stay. I’m not calling it a vacation because I still work every day of the week, as most business owners do. While I feel blessed and very happy to be here in such a beautiful paradise, problems don’t simply disolve. As a matter of fact, when you’re away from home, the unfamiliarity of a daily routine can really magnify deep rooted issues and anxiety both.
5 Ways to Manage Your Anxiety Now
1. Get off of Social Media/News Feed
There’s many too many awful stories in the news lately. If your an empath like me, it can ruin your day. An hour into scrolling Facebook or my Apple news feed and I’m ready to cry myself to sleep and crawl in hole. Get off of it and take the notifications off so you’re not tempted. Or better yet, uninstall if you can. For me turning off the notifications and hiding the apps a folder help me reduce a knee- jerk reaction to just check stuff real quick. There are organizations and story lines I am vested in but cannot emotionally deal with the constant heartbreak, so I give myself scheduled times to deal with updates.
2. Focus on What You Can Control
This is a great tip my sister gave me a while ago. As I mentioned, the anxiety I have has always centered around my family and kids. I have had close calls that send chills down my spine and when I have felt really helpless and scared my sister suggested thinking hard about what is in my control. Sometimes it’s a lot, and other times, it’s not much! Therefore, focusing on the times when you have control and what are steps you can take can really calm you down. Developing an action plan can help you better navigate the times where you don’t have as much control as you’d like.
3. Make Lists
Make a list of what makes you happy, what you need to do, things you’re avoiding, what you love, and what you’re afraid of. Working out these things and jotting them down can put things in perspective. For me, the more anxious I get the more things I start avoiding. Writing down a list of things to do can be a way to perhaps realize that those things are not so daunting.
4. Do things that make you feel like “you”
For me those things are enjoying dinner with friends (socially distanced of course), playing with my kids, working out with my MaZi Dance Fitness, reading a book or styling outfits! The key is to do the things that fire you up so that you have something to look forward to. Yes, that thing probably looks different now, but it can still be done to a certain extent.
5. Go Outside
This is coming from the biggest indoor girl there ever was. Like a cat in water, I cringe when someone suggests an outdoor activity. I easily get stung by bugs, I’m too cold/hot, or go to the bathroom. To me, it feels like a huge inconvenience. I hate it! However, when I do go outside and I take in the beauty of nature, I feel 100 times better. Assuming I don’t get bit by a crazy spider. I recently had to go to urgent care during COVID times to get a steriod shot to calm insect induced hives. It was awful and I swore never to go outside again. But here I am swimming in the ocean!
If you’re struggling to get out of bed and having increasingly dark thoughts, please talk to a professional. These are things that have currently helped me but realize that things can change. Another thing I have leaned on is CBD, prayer, and attention to self care! Love and hugs, Z
