5 Simple Exercises to Reduce Anxiety
Have you ever found yourself in a sudden pit of anxiety wondering, “Am I always going to feel like this? Is this anxiety crap ever going to pass?” When you recognize it creeping in, you can transform your current path, take charge, and restore function. Literally, you can stop anxiety in its path!
Read through these tips on how you can reduce your anxiety just by trying a few simple exercises. You’d be surprised at how effective it is to get away from whatever you’re doing and move your body.
Who knew that exercising could have such a positive effect?
Try these activities:
1. Go for a walk. Walking is not only a super simple exercise, but you can also do this literally anywhere. (Even in a panoramic… don’t forget your mask!) Stepping outside your front door and taking a stroll around the neighborhood or in a nearby park can do wonders to calm your mind.
● If you’re in an office, taking a walk around the block on your lunch break can really help to break up the day and calm mental chaos.
2. Ride a bike. Going for a bicycle ride isn’t just for kids. Biking is a really great exercise that moves your body and strengthens your leg muscles as well.
● Plus, when you’re on a bike, you get to bypass a lot of the traffic jams by riding around or up on the sidewalk to get by.
3. Practice yoga. The calming effect of yoga is one reason that millions of people do yoga on a daily basis. Some refer to it more as a meditation time, but the stretching also brings you numerous benefits.
● You can alter your yoga practice to meet your specific needs. Wanna sweat? Do a nice yoga flow. Wanna rest? Stretch or grab a pillow and blanket and chill in shavasana.
4. Try jumping rope. As a child, you may have enjoyed jumping rope on the playground. This activity is also a simple way to relieve stress easily at home— even if you are an adult!
● The great part about jumping rope is that your mind is at ease while you’re focusing on how many times you can jump. It’s a simple way to stop the anxiety if even for a moment of time.
5. Run. Even if you don’t consider yourself to be a runner, get outside and hit the pavement. Or run on a treadmill indoors. The moment that your feet start moving, the stress will start to melt away.
● When you’re feeling extra stressed or anxious, just change up your run a bit. Run in bursts or sprint out some of that stress. You might be able to run anxious thoughts and feelings out of your system completely.
When you’re feeling like the world is coming down on your shoulders, it’s time to take charge and do something about it. Put on your workout gear and let your body movement transport your mind to a better place.
The great thing about using exercise to relieve anxiety is that you’re also strengthening your physical health as well.
Need some other resources to support your mental health?
Head over to https://www.patreon.com/selfcareirl to sign up for our exclusive membership community to receive daily pep talks, downloadable monthly self care guides, ad free podcasts, exclusive soul dump audio, guided meditations and more.