There will be no pomp and circumstance in this article; instead, we will dive right into five quick ways to relieve stress, depression, and anxiety.
- Take breaks from the firing line on a regular basis. Working long hours without taking regular breaks is a great way to accumulate stress and tension.
Make sure to take at least one 15-minute break in the morning and one in the afternoon, as well as a 20-minute lunch break. If possible, eat your lunch away from your desk. Similarly, if you are dealing with a lot in your life right now, taking a day or a weekend away—longer if possible—to get some breathing space will be extremely beneficial. Even a day away from the firing line will allow you to get some distance from the issues and gather your thoughts.
- 2. Regular physical activity can help relieve stress, depression, and anxiety. Exercise releases endorphins into your system, giving you a natural energy boost. It will also give you a break from brooding and dwelling on your problems and troubles if you do the right exercises.
Exercises that allow you to brood (weight lifting, jogging, treadmills) should be avoided, as should exercises that require your full concentration. Squash, tennis, badminton, and circuit training are all excellent examples of competitive sports. It is very important that you don’t think about your problems while you’re working out. Even though you’ll feel better physically, you’ll be putting mental stress on yourself, which will make your stress, depression, and anxiety worse.
- 3. Stop punishing yourself. Stress, depression, and anxiety are all exacerbated by self-deprecation. Every time you criticize yourself, you erode your confidence and self-esteem.
Never tell yourself that you are worthless, useless, stupid, hopeless, boring, ugly, or a loser. Never convince yourself that other people despise you, that you are difficult to be around, or that you are better off alone. You would never say such things to other people, so you must find it equally repugnant to say them to yourself.
These are strong words and phrases that will harm you. Accept that you are not perfect and that you, like everyone else, make mistakes, and give yourself some leeway. Make a promise with me that you will never, ever indulge in self-deprecation again. It is impossible.
- 4. Isolation is another issue that stress, depression, and anxiety sufferers face. Okay, there will be times when you just want to be alone. During such times, you can ruminate on problems and events for hours on end and beat yourself up. That’s not good. Instead, make better use of isolation.
Occupy your mind by completing a jigsaw puzzle, a logic problem, a crossword puzzle, reading a book, or engaging in a hobby such as painting, playing a musical instrument, or whatever you are interested in. Isolation will help you grow in this way, rather than causing you more pain.
- 5. Television, radio, and newspapers can all provide you with a daily dose of negativity and make you feel down. They primarily focus on the negative aspects of life, such as crime, corruption, war, scandal, and natural disasters, and can provide a distorted view of reality.
Not to mention the amount of image manipulation you will be subjected to. Give yourself a break from this negative drip feed by avoiding it entirely for one week. You might discover, as I did, that they have no place in your life after that. You won’t miss them, believe me.
That’s five quick tips to help you combat stress, depression, and anxiety. Please give them a shot; they’ll all help to boost your mood very quickly.
