What are some things you can start doing at home to reduce stress and anxiety?
The first step to feeling better is finding the source of your stress, whether it is at work or something more personal. To reduce stress and anxiety, it is crucial to address these sources head-on.
The most ineffective thing you can do is use unhealthy coping mechanisms, such as drinking or smoking.
Ignoring the situation and failing to take action can make your problems worse.
At least, building up your emotional resilience, taking control over your state of affairs, maintaining a really strong social network, and optimistic attitude are some of the essentials of good stress management.
Things you can start doing at home to reduce stress and anxiety
The city life in Bengaluru was all work and no play for 28-year-old Arjun. His life is busy juggling tech clients, long coding sessions, and night-owl revisions to complete his project on time. At the outset, Arjun thrived amidst this chaotic rhythm. As time went by into years, the stress sneaked into his life like a thug into the city of Bengaluru
There often appeared an overwhelmed expression on Arjun’s face. Unsound sleep accompanied him and night after night nonstop overthinked himself in thoughts. Both productivity and connections of life suffer badly. There also his peace and happiness were severely affected. Late evening one particular tiring day after returning back, Arjun poured his stuff before his age-long childhood buddy, Priya, on weighing too much now on his back.
Priya listened patiently as well, having experienced her own struggles with stress. “Arjun, stress does not just vanish,” she told him. “But you can control it more effectively if you face it the proper way. Allow me to tell you what did it for me.
“You might not believe this,” Priya had told him, “but physical activity can make your problems feel less intense.” So next morning, with his alarm turned on before daybreak, he laced his running shoes, and before Arjun knew what was happening, he started jogging through the lovely green oasis known as Cubbon Park, one of the only places where people could actually take a breather in a generally chaotic city. Slowly but surely, jogging became his ritual. On weekends, he played friendly badminton matches with his neighbors. The exercise did not just make him fit; it made him clear his mind and get the energy to face the challenges head-on.
Arjun’s anxiety was frequently caused by helplessness, generally as a result of having to manage very tight deadlines at work. Priya told him once, “Stress builds up when you feel helpless. Take control of what you can.” One such week of stress, Arjun decided to give her suggestion a try. He broke down his otherwise impossible to-do list into manageable chunks. For the first time, he let his team manage some of the workload instead of trying to do it all on his own. This new feeling of control empowered him to take better control of his workload, and the deadlines no longer loomed like Mount Everest.
He also realized how much he had been living in isolation. His busy schedule had moved him further away from his friends and family. Priya had reminded him how important it was to stay in touch. He called a group of college friends and invited them to come over for chai and a game night. Laughter and shared memories filled his tiny apartment, melting all the stress he had gone through during the week. He once confessed to his supervisor at work who was full of sound advice and consolation. Arjun realized that discussing issues brought clarity-most times, but unexpected solutions too.
Like most of the professionals in the world, Arjun was not giving any time to himself. Priya’s words reached his heart and soul: “You need to set aside time for the things you love.” Arjun soon started setting out two evenings for himself every week. On Thursday, he could rediscover painting, which again brought him nearer to his own self. It was movie night with his mom on Saturdays, nostalgia of the greatest Bollywood classics. This “me time” for a while enabled him to balance himself in order to recharge for the week ahead.
Lastly, Priya urged Arjun to challenge himself in ways not related to work. “Set new goals,” she said. “It boosts your confidence and keeps you motivated.” Inspired, Arjun joined a Kannada language class, a skill he had always wanted to develop. He also joined a local cycling club that pushed him physically but introduced him to a new set of friends. Each achievement, no matter how minor, pleased him and brought him back to life.
Week by month, Arjun’s life began to change. Stress no longer ruled him. If he stayed busy, took control of his problems, formed meaningful relationships, made time for himself, and started to take on new challenges, Arjun discovered tools to cope with pressure.
This tale tells about some great ways of handling stress. For Arjun, making physical activities part of his schedule gave him the much-needed clarity and fresh energy. Controlling problems allowed him to meet issues squarely in the face. Bonding with friends and gurus helped to offer emotional strength and a different kind of insight. “Me time” allowed him to balance things and set goals for himself; personal goals motivate and help increase self-esteem.
Arjun thinks about Priya’s wisdom and is grateful because her advice not only helped him decrease his stress levels but also balanced and brought happiness back into his life. Sometimes, it could be a jog in the park, a deep conversation with a friend, or picking up something new; all these small changes can make big differences in the way we deal with stress. Start your journey today, just like Arjun did—you might be surprised at how far it takes you.
