Society x Anxiety

Depending on where you are in the world, things are shifting back into a state of new-normal. This can be incredibly overwhelming, given how the last 17 months of our lives have looked. We’re going from feeling the weight of isolation to feeling the weight of interaction. Moreso now than ever before, it is important to remain mindful of our individual needs. How do we bring back grounding practices? And furthermore, how do we combat the anxiety that comes along with overcrowded spaces and social interaction after such a long hiatus?


Tips to help reduce anxiety:


Get outside. This doesn’t necessarily mean you need to be around other people, but really immerse yourself in nature. It’s incredibly healing and is clinically proven to help ease the body into a state of calm.


Breathe deeply. For anxiety, I personally like to breathe in for two and out for four. The extended exhale is linked to the parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for relaxation.


Drink less caffeine, and more water. It is recommended to avoid caffeine if you struggle with anxiety. This isn’t necessarily because caffeine causes anxiety, but rather it worsens symptoms. We each have a different tolerance for this, and it’s important to find what works for you. Regardless, I would recommend drinking half of your body weight in ounces of water per day instead (e.g. 200lbs? Drink 100oz of water daily).

Avoid screens for the first 30 minutes of the day. This will allow you to assess how you’re feeling and would like to spend the day, before the world gets to influence your anxiety. Even if you’re an entreupreuneur- don’t worry. If it’s an emergency, someone will call you.


Practice gratitude. Need I say more? Write down 3 things you’re grateful for every morning. This will help to rewire your thoughts into a more positive space. It can feel hopeless at first, but gratitude pays off in the long run.


Eat whole foods. As a general, easy-to-follow rule: if you can’t grow it or kill it, don’t eat it. It’s not quite that black and white, and I believe there is space for these other foods in our lives, but the bulk of our diets should be composed of whole foods.


These tips have helped me incredibly over the years. Even now, whenever I come back to my routine, I feel tranquil, and without it I struggle. It seems too good to be true, that these easy and free tips would amount to more peace. However, with anything, we need to master the basics first. Don’t let the noise mute your ability to heal.

Previous post Next post

Leave a comment