Anxiety has a funny way of showing up uninvited. Sometimes it appears during a busy work day, and other times it sneaks in when you’re simply trying to enjoy your coffee in peace. When that stress starts building, having some relaxing habits ready can make the difference between you feeling like you need to run and feeling like you can calm down and be in control. You don’t need to become calm overnight, though. You just need to find the ways that make the tough moments feel softer and more manageable.
Creating a calming routine.
For some people, creating a calm routine includes herbal teas, meditation apps, cozy playlists, or exploring companies like CBDistillery as part of their Wellness habits. Everyone relaxes differently, which is why it helps to experiment and discover what genuinely makes you feel lighter on the inside.
Stop trying to fight it.
For some people, one of the best ways to relax when anxiety hits is to stop trying to fight the anxiety. The more you wrestle with those anxious thoughts, the louder they often become. Picture a monster holding a rope across a giant hole in the ground. You’re pulling against it, trying to pull the monster into the hole as much as he’s trying to pull you into the hole. That struggle is exhausting. But what would happen if you just let the rope go? Imagine just putting down the rope. You’re no longer being pulled towards a hole. And you don’t have to pull the monster towards it either. You can just be.
A quick mental reset can help.
Try stepping away from your phone and focusing on something small and ordinary. Water the plants, fold some laundry. Do a task that’s repetitive. Organising a messy draw might not sound exciting, but the simple tasks can calm that busy mind of yours. There is something very satisfying about turning some chaos into neat little piles and looking at them, knowing that you’ve managed to calm yourself down enough to do that.
Have a warm drink.
If you’re looking to calm down your anxiety and relax, a warm drink creates a sense of comfort you’re missing. Tea, hot chocolate, warm lemon water, they are all very grounding during stressful moments. It’s very much less about the drink itself and more about slowing down long enough to enjoy it. You get bonus points if you wrap yourself in a blanket and pretend you’re living in a peaceful cottage somewhere in the mountains.
Calm the senses.
It’s a little trick, but if you use sensors to relax your body, you’re going to go a long way. You can light a candle with a calming scent, hold an ice cube in your hand to feel it melt, or listen to rain sounds. Sensory experiences gently interrupt those anxious thoughts and pull your attention back to the present moment.
It takes time to figure out what it is that’s going to help you to relax, but once you’ve got it, you’ll always feel good about yourself.
