Does the start of a new year make you feel a bit anxious about what you should be doing, how you should be doing it, commitment, study, work, your looks? Oh and then another spot appears.
I don’t know about you but it’s really hard to think rationally when anxiety kicks in and sometimes you don’t even realise it’s happening.
When feelings creep in, go with what feels right to do at the time. It's a tough choice as fighting it sometimes makes it worse, but then going out for a walk and fresh air makes such a positive difference. Even a short walk each day and getting a bit of fresh air I find helps.
There are a few things that really help make a difference for me and I’ve listed them here. What works for you? I would love to know.
Lists, I love them. When my head gets fuzzy with everything whirling around, I find it's easy to end up doing nothing because you can’t think straight and work out what’s going on. If I write everything down, it really helps make a difference. Don't try to make sense of it as you are putting it on paper and take a good look once finished. Cross off everything you don’t need or is not important and start to prioritise the things to do. Target a certain number on your list each day and once you've achieved them, cross them off as you no longer need to think about it.
Social Media can be great but a complete nightmare at the same time. Use it for a quick catch-up with friends and a scan through but don’t waste time on there. You will be in touch with your real friends anyway, too many voices and a ‘perfect world’ don’t help. By not taking your phone to bed with you, you won't be tempted to take a look or be woken up by noise or light.
Talk to friends or family to help you see things more clearly and work out how to get through your feelings. Just off-loading can make you feel better. People love to listen and want to help their dearest. It really is good to talk.
Outside the Box – Stepping outside of a certain situation and looking at it from a different angle can make a difference. See of you can put a different slant on it. You may think of an alternative direction or solution by doing this and being able to handle your issue.
Breathing - I have to confess I’ve never been keen on the gym or running but I do love a good walk and yoga. Through yoga I've learnt how to breathe and the difference it can make. Sounds a bit odd if you’re not used to doing it, but being able to sit there and control your breathing, whatever is going on around you really helps. Breathe in through your nose slowly really filling up your lungs, hold onto it for a few counts and then breathe slowly out through your nose or mouth, this should be a longer breath. Closing your eyes makes you concentrate more and you can do this anywhere and it brings a calm by doing so. You can repeat this as many times as you like, the more you do it, the more 'natural' it becomes.
Stay Strong - Easy to say sometimes but the more we try and do it the stronger we become. Stay true to your beliefs and your heart. Think about yourself and your challenge and what you need to do. Break it down into smaller chunks instead of one big issue, you will find it easier to tackle.
If you find that more spots appear when you're anxious, this may well be caused by raised levels of cortisol, known as your stress hormone. Bringing some calm into your daily routine will help make a difference to your mind and skin.
Most importantly, find what works for you, giving your mind, body and skin the time it deserves.
Julia x