5 Essentials for Managing Stress + Anxiety
We all experience stress and anxiety throughout our lives. It’s how you handle it that makes that time more or less manageable. The moments when I’m handling stressful situations well are usually times when I am using positive ways to cope with it. The moments when things seem like they can’t get any better are usually times when I’m not using positive ways to cope with it. Here are some essential things you can do to make stressful situations more manageable.
Get organized around your stress: make a to-do list, do some healthy research, set a plan, etc. This can give you perspective on the situation and help break things down so they are not so overwhelming.
Make an ongoing list of positive ways to cope: ideally you would do this before you’re feeling stressed or anxious, but this can also be done when you’re feeling calmer during a stressful situation. Some of my go to’s are: going for a walk, talking to a friend, petting a dog or cat, being outside, etc. If you’re having trouble with this, ask a friend some ways they positively cope with difficulties. This list should be fluid, so if something no longer works, scrap it and add something that does!
Identify your needs: think about what you need during this stressful time. What do you need from yourself and from others? What does your daily routine look like? Have you moved your body, had something healthy to eat or slept well?
Communicate your needs: it’s easy to think that we are alone in this situation or difficulty, but we’re not. Communicate your needs to someone in your community. Be upfront about what you need from them. It’s okay to tell someone you want to be listened to, want their advice on something or comfort about the situation. Say what you need!
Support from your community: you are not alone with this! Reach out to your community for support. We all go through similar feelings and situations because we’re all human, so be honest with people when they ask how you are. Lean on your community during moments of stress and anxiety.
It’s easy to feel alone in times of stress or difficulties. The truth is that you are not alone. It’s okay if you’re still building your community. We need to foster our connections which then turn into community. In the meantime, reach out to those who are already there. Stress and anxiety won’t go away but we can change how we respond to it.
Be well 💜
