If you’re one of the millions of people who live with chronic anxiety, there’s some good news for you: You don’t have to rely on pharmaceuticals with side-effects that are worse than the conditions they ‘cure.’ There are natural, cost-effective ways to improve your emotional and mental state, and the only side-effect is a feeling a well-being.
Practice Mindfulness
There’s an old saying that you are what you eat, but did you know that you’re also what you think? Mindfulness is the practice of self-awareness, not deflection. While distracting yourself from unpleasant thoughts can keep you from over-thinking, mindfulness allows you to reduce their power over your emotions.
Mindfulness is similar to meditation, and they work well together, but you don’t need to set aside a large block of time to practice it. Whenever you’re feeling overwhelmed, simply take a mental step backward, become aware of what you are feeling, then take note of how and where in your body the emotion is affecting you. Once you identify these things, acknowledge the emotion and mentally let it go. Like many new practices, it may feel awkward at first. But once you employ mindfulness as a regular practice, it will become second-nature for you to gain control over your emotions without stuffing them down, instead of allowing them to control you.
Work It, Move It, Do It
Fitness is important for mental and physical health, but you don’t need to become an exercise junkie to get the benefits. Whether you choose something low-impact and soothing like walking or yoga or you begin an intense workout regimen, whatever you can do to get your body moving will reflect well on your state of mind.
Another way to reduce stress – and therefore, anxiety – is to engage in an activity that brings joy, like art or dancing. Take a class or just tackle something that you’ve been putting off, like organizing your closet. Taking the first step to learn something new or make progress, no matter how insignificant it may seem on the surface, can produce a chain reaction that ripples into other facets of your life.
Get Back to Nature
Everything we need for optimal nutrition and wellness is already close by. Studies prove that just a short walk in a natural setting – even if it’s only for 20 to 30 minutes – reduces anxiety and stress dramatically. Cliches become common expressions because there is truth to them, but take the time to stop and smell the roses, literally and figuratively. No matter where you live, chances are that there’s a park, a bicycle path or a tree-lined avenue nearby.
Going natural doesn’t just mean getting out in nature. Soothing drinks like chamomile, peppermint or green tea are caffeine-free and contain natural chemicals like L-Theanine that boost your serotonin levels naturally and help protect you from the effects of harmful stress hormones like cortisol. Botanicals like ashwagandha, lemon balm, and lavender are also known to boost serotonin levels and increase feelings of well-being. There are products on the market, like RediCalm and similar supplements, that contain these ingredients. You can find many online or visit your local health food store to find them.
No one can eliminate stress from their life altogether, but taking steps to reduce anxiety and the conditions that cause it will go a long way toward improving your mindset and overall health. Using a natural product like RediCalm in combination with practices that allow you to process everyday stresses more effectively will help. When you improve your mind, your life will follow. Taking the first step is up to you.