Mini Anti-Anxiety Toolkit: For Those with Little or No Time (to read or do)
- Dawn
- Apr 9, 2020
- 2 min read
Updated: Apr 10, 2020
The most effective of the quick tools--all can either be done while you're doing something else or will only take a few seconds. And if you do a little, it can help you feel a little more calm, a little less anxious. If you do a lot...well, you'll feel that much better.
"It is amazing how much how little will do." Hugh Milne
Scroll down if you want a little more info on each one.
1. Ahhhhhhhhh...
2. Humming
3. Jiggling
4. Horselips
5. Feel your feet
6. Yawning
7. Gratitude
8. Laughing
9. Smiling
1. Ahhhhhhhhh...
basically a big sigh
longer (gentle) exhale than inhale
sends a message of safety to the brain
can be whispered for privacy
even better when done looking at the sky
2. Humming
whatever random notes you want
or just one note
feel the vibrations move through your body
kind of like a cat's purr
3. Jiggling
wiggle and shake (all body parts that don't hurt)
rapidly (100+ times/minute)
make it into a dance
have fun!
4. Horselips
bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb...
looser than a raspberry
helps loosen tension in the face
helps you get past feeling like "I can't!"
silly
5. Feel your feet
brings you back into your body
brings you back into the present where you have resources
calms you down
6. Yawning
increases oxygen
stretches & relaxes head & face muscles
more juicy fluids (tears & saliva)
7. Gratitude
shifts awareness
boosts immune system
reduces depression
improves self-esteem
8. Laughing
relieves tension and stress
decreases stress hormones
improves immune system
is fun
9. Smiling (it's worth faking it--here's how)
lift up the corners of your mouth
keep your teeth apart
wrinkle the outside corners of your eyes
wait a few seconds...feel a bit better?
improves immune system
improves mood
lowers blood pressure
Oh, and did I say? Most, if not all, of these things can help strengthen your immune system, by reducing stress if nothing else.
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