We know that January can be a great tume for planning, preparing and welcoming in new opportunities and ideas into our lives. We also know that January can be stressful, picking up work again and trying to settle back into your everyday routine can be busy and overwhelming, especially within the first few weeks back.

This can lead to early burn out, anxiety and imposter syndrome. However, there are always ways to combat the stress and manage how it affects you. These 5 tips on how to tackle and manage stress and anxiety, and help you get the most out of your February, and life.

Exercise.

Yoga and pilates are great for stress reduction and for calming your body. Pilates especially is known to provides a sense of calmness and relief from stress. The use of breath in pilates is designed to improve blood circulation and encourage relaxation.

 

Be kind to yourself.

When things go wrong, or if they don’t go to plan, we will often beat up and blame ourselves. This can lead to guilt, disappointment and feeling like we are letting people down. This is not the case and never is. Be kinder to yourself. Remind yourself that you are only human, and there is always tomorrow to try again. Nothing is perfect, and we need to stop holding ourselves up to this standard.

 

Take a break.

I recommend taking a 30 minute break each day to just be present. Away from technology, noise and daily activities and sit in silence. This can reduce stress and anxiety, improve focus and boost productivity.

 

Limit caffeine.

Caffeine negatively affects the body in several ways. It increases anxiety, makes focusing more difficult, and can disrupt sleep patterns. All of these can lead to further stress, which is completely unavoidable. So, cutting out that morning coffee or choosing decaf options will help you have a more productive day. I would also say keep hydrated, never underestimate the power of water!

Set small achievements.

Realistically, we can only achieve three things per day. But when life is busy, we can create lists as long as our arm and then become stressed when we don’t complete them. Setting smaller, more achievable goals and tracking them can make us feel more accomplished and satisfied. Knowing we have achieved our goals can reduce stress and increase productivity and motivation. They can also make us passionate again.

These steps are easy to implement into our everyday lives, no matter our lifestyle or schedule, and are effective in helping reduce and manage our stress and mental health. The key is consistency. Try them for a week, and you will be sure to see a difference in how you feel and how you approach things!