Reduce Anxiety and Improve Effectiveness by Slowing Down
In this busy world, it can often feel like there isn’t time to slow down but that is exactly what you need to do to be more productive and effective. By slowing down, you can become more organized, think more clearly, and start to complete tasks from a place of calm and creativity rather than stress and pressure.
Slowing down makes it easier to connect with and understand what is happening right now. This is also known as mindfulness, which means to focus intently on the present feelings and experiences at the moment. Being mindful makes it harder to get sucked into the “what if’s” and can prevent you from being triggered by your worries that may not even come to pass.
With that in mind, here is a list of 3 powerful tips for slowing down and becoming more mindful when anxiety feels overwhelming.
Schedule Moments of Calm & Relaxation
Slowing down allows you to enjoy more moments of calm and relaxation. Rather than always worrying about what you could or should be doing, taking some time out to relax and rejuvenate provides your mind and body with the rest needed to be fully functional. So, whether you enjoy watching TV, drawing, or taking a nice, long bubble bath, these moments are essential and can help contribute to a more balanced life. It doesn’t have to take a long time, even a few minutes of deep breathing or a walk around the block can make a real difference.
Listen to Soundscapes & Other Music
Next, listening to soundscapes and relaxing music can be a significant way to allow you to slow down and reduce your stress levels. While the type of music you choose is entirely up to you, here are some examples of how music can help you slow down, become more focused, and mindful:
Upbeat Music: Listening to upbeat sounds and lyrics can help you feel more positive and optimistic about life.
Fast Music: Listening to fast music can help boost your focus and concentration.
Slower Tempo Music: Listening to slower tempo music can help soothe the mind, relax your muscles, and release stress.
Be Aware of Your Relationship with Technology (Phone & Notifications)
Lastly, limiting or temporarily turning off your notifications can allow you to slow down in a major way. This is because the average person receives a wide array of both negative and positive notifications throughout the day. Unfortunately, there is often no way to know whether a notification will have a negative or positive effect on your psyche until you have received it.
Therefore, if you want to relax, you may need to limit or deactivate your notifications altogether. Although it might feel sort of strange at first, over time, doing so will allow you to take much-needed breaks from stressful mediums such as social media, news platforms, and more.
Overall, if you are struggling to find ways to slow down, mindfulness-based counseling is an excellent option.
