It can be difficult to stay in control of our emotions while fear and worry are being shoved into our faces from every corner. The pandemic, inflation, racial tension, political tension, humanitarian crisis, environmental concerns, the list goes on.
And if you hadn’t experienced anxiety before, you probably have now! (welcome to the club, bestie :’))
So, how do we stay positive when there’s so much in the world trying to steal our joy? It’s normal to feel guilty, hurt and empathetic to someone else’s situations. Even when you try to help as much as possible, you still feel like it’s not enough. So should we stop feeling like the world’s fate is up to us to change?
I wanted to put together a few key tips that I found useful in helping with my anxiety and overthinking. We have control over our thoughts, not the other way around. Sometimes we can forget that and let it fester into anxiety and stress.
So if you’re interested in knowing how to cope and live with anxiety in 2022, keep on reading.
Distract yourself. I’ve noticed that when I’m left with my reflections, sometimes they can be overwhelming, and I end up overthinking, which leads to an anxious mind. If I’m on my phone for too long or find myself doing something that has given my mind room to overthink, I’ll try and distract myself from myself for a moment.
Speaking to family and friends, watching a movie with a loved one or even going to the gym have all been positive ways to not let the anxiety take control, even for a little while.
Talk about it. Open up about whatever is stressing you or causing you to worry. I usually talk to my friends when something is too overwhelming for me to deal with. During a working week, you may not have the time to sit down and discuss what has been going on in your life. This could pile up, making your thoughts go into overdrive, which we don’t want!
So dedicating some time either over the phone, Facetime or even meeting at a café to catch up can help take the pressure off these thoughts you’re having. You don’t have to carry the burden by yourself. A good support network is an important element. And if there isn’t anyone you want to open up to, a counsellor is an excellent option to get things off your chest.
Review your diet and lifestyle. Sometimes, all it takes is an adjustment in how we eat or how active we need to be. As I’m navigating through my mid to late twenties (LOL), I find that I can’t indulge in my favourite foods as often as I’d like to.
Stay active, like going for walks or working out, is a great way to remind your body and mind you can keep going. You may also want to spend some time reading or visiting an exhibition because it’s so easy to get addicted to our screens! We forget that wisdom and creativity surround us in other forms.
Prayer/ Meditation. Whether you’re religious, spiritual or not, I would encourage you to try and have a moment of reflection. Sometimes we get caught up in the chaos of life and forget we also need to dedicate time to peace. I find that speaking to God reminds me of how blessed life can be, focusing my perception on the positives and distancing my feelings from negative energy.
It takes time to relax, especially when you’re overworked, so there’s no rush! Try to make it a daily effort to zone out from distractions and zone into how you’re really feeling, which your mental health will thank you for in the long run!
I hope these tips were helpful if you’ve ever felt anxious or stressed out this year. (And we’re only three months in! LOL) Check out my Instagram for more posts on what’s going on in the world today. 🙂
Words By Seraphina 