Written by: Mara Zwicker, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
This is a practical guide for people who want to change something, feel happier and more at ease. Feel free to take those strategies that work best for you and leave the others out. They are meant to provide you with some tools that have helped many people in the past, to decrease stress and anxiety. Implement at least one of them for 30 days straight (no day left out!) and it will contribute to increase mental health in your day to day life. Something that I feel, all of us can use right now to a certain extend :)
1. Close all "running tabs".. all unfinished tasks! The cupboard that you wanted to organise but never did.. the aunt you wanted to call but didn't have time for.. the stuff you wanted to sort out but have been procrastinating to do.. all the small and big things that we start (or want to start) and never finish take up space in our mind. We might not realize it but subconsciously, those unfinished tasks consume our energy. Similar to a Laptop slowing down because there are too many open tabs at the same time. Tip: write a list of all unfinished things and finish one of them per week (or month).
2. Get a VERY clear picture about your finances and then start to organize and structure them 100%! Write down every single cent that you are spending and add it all together on a monthly basis. Don´t forget those annually costs, break them down to how much they contribute to your monthly spending. Then see how much money comes into your account monthly, through work or other income streams. Work towards making it a plus at the end of the month by cutting unnecessary expenses and increasing the income.
3. Look around in your neighborhood for an opportunity to serve your community. Serving others greatly reduces or own anxiety and we earn the gratitude of those we help, which greatly enriches our lives. It might even be a very small thing but it adds greatly to our well-being.
4. Get in contact with clean, freshwater as much as possible. Clean, running water can wash away lots of negative and destructive energy. If that is not always possible, listen to the sound of running water (there are great sound mixes on Youtube for example) or imagine standing by a waterfall.
5. Avoid people who stress you out. If you can not avoid them physically, train yourself to not respond to them emotionally. Let them talk, keep your thoughts to yourself and go on with your day as soon as possible.
6. If you turn on the TV, really sit down to watch a certain movie. Don´t let it run in the background all day. You may not feel it, but your subconsciousness is permanently stimulated by the noise and your nervous system has to deal with the constant stimulation. Rather turn the TV or radio off, take a deep breath and test how it feels like, to sit in quiet.
7. Create a collage with all your favorite pictures. This might include family, friends, pets, places with great memories, travels etc. It is beautiful to print pictures out and hang them on the wall instead of leaving everything online. And it can remind you of the beautiful things in your life when you are stressing out about something, that will probably not be important anymore tomorrow.
8. Write a happiness diary: every night, specifically write down 3 things that made you happy AND
3 things that you did well today. It is meant to re-wire your brain to focus on the happy and good things in your life. When you do it for 30 days straight, you will start to notice the difference in your daily perception of things, they might become brighter and even more positive. It might sound like a small thing to do but is VERY powerful when you do it at least 30 days straight.
When you find these strategies helpful, feel free to get the whole guide with 30 Tips as a free download on my website. I wish you a happy and joyful day :)
These tips are not intended to give medical advice or replace a doctor in case of illness.
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Mara Zwicker, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Mara Zwicker is a firm believer in the ability of people to create a positive change in the world. After surviving a life threatening disease at age 21, she decided to help people discover their true 'why' and create a life around it. Social entrepreneur and writer by profession, linguist and intercultural communicator by education, Mara has spend her life traveling, living and studying on different continents around the world. She is affiliated with Positive Global Change, an international group of social entrepreneurs, which helps people to develop their true potential as leaders and impact makers. She is writing in the fields of business, travel and health for clients like Netcoo (Next Economy Magazine), Lonely Planet, Marco Polo and HolidayCheck.
