The 5 Things I Do Daily to Keep My Anxiety Controlled

I've always been open about the fact that despite having counseling degrees, coaching certifications, and feeling fully competent to support others, I struggle with anxiety myself. I am often asked how I keep my anxiety in check when I spend time with clients developing a plan to help them face their own. There are five things that I do every day. These things have helped so much. I think they might help you too.

1. I make my bed. There's something satisfying knowing that I have completed one task every day. I like the way it looks when it's made. I love crawling into it at night when it has been closed up and made. And no matter what the day brings, I know that I've started my day strong!

2. I practice gratitude. Each night, I make a list of 10 things that I am grateful for that day. I used to go to bed at night and my brain with spin and spiral for hours. I would think about things that happened that day, things I have to do the next day, things in the future, worries, fears, insecurities, doubts… And then one day I realized that I just needed to sleep! And to sleep I need a peaceful mind. And to have peace I need gratitude. When I get in bed each night I close my eyes and begin to list 10 things that I am grateful for from that day. Sometimes they are big things, sometimes they are reoccurring things, and sometimes they are little unique moments or interactions from that specific day. Often, for me, putting the focus on that allows me to relax, bring a calm to my other thoughts and allows me to fall asleep. There are many nights that I don't even get through listing 10 things before I am off to dreamland.

3. I drink half my body weight in ounces of water. Hydration is key to health and wellness. I find that on days that I don't get enough water I am lethargic, I'm hungrier, my skin feels dry, and sometimes my digestion isn't as great. Water helps me to stay awake, to flush my system, and the feeling of my best!

4. I hug. Human contact is one of the most important things that we can do in life. I make sure each day I hug. I hug my children, I hug my husband, and Pre-Covid times I hugged my family and my friends! --I was a hugger -- and will be again someday. There are days where I just hug my puppy! I strongly feel hat connection and closeness, releases some thing inside. It reminds me that I'm not in this crazy life alone. It allows me to feel safe and to provide a feeling for safety for others. A hug says, I'm here for you!

5. I do one load of laundry to completion. I am not sure what goes on at your house, but laundry is one of those household tasks that never goes away. Just when you think you have everything done, you find a wet towel on the floor and a pair of dirty socks shoved in a pair sneakers by the door. I'm someone who's very much likes to work from a to-do list and cross things off. Laundry looming over my head for days at a time used to cause me so much anxiety. I also dreaded the hours spent folding laundry and putting it away. Now I do one load, mixed lights and darks, on cold every day. This Load can be folded and put away quickly, and I never face a build up.

When I start working with a client as their life coach and they report feeling overwhelmed, I recommend they start these five things for a week as homework. I asked them to report their current level of anxiety on a scale of 1 to 10. When they return the following week many report a significant reduction anxiety. They also share they are sleeping better, that they're less lethargic, that they feel like they've completed tasks every day, and some of the bigger issues and concerns are more manageable. I would love for you to try the list to and let me know how it works for you!