10 Tips to Manage Overwhelm & Anxiety

Feeling stressed, overwhelmed or anxious? Don’t worry, you’re not alone, which is why we’ve asked one of our incredible teachers Anita Jasser, a UKCP body psychotherapist trainee, a yoga teacher and biodynamic massage therapist, to share some tips to help manage overwhelm and anxiety during the coronavirus outbreak.

1. Do less – when you’re overwhelmed, it is important to rest more than usual. When circumstances are uncertain, our nervous system responses will be activated, especially if we are spending more time online. Let yourself nap more and do less.
   
   
2. What part of this can I do? My teacher Ana Forrest suggests that in times of overwhelm, ask yourself, what part of this can I do? By breaking down your to-do list and focusing on completing one part of it at a time, it can make us feel less overwhelmed.
   
   
3. Daily routines –Make a daily routine, so that you can begin to unwind at the same time each day. The body needs consistency to self-regulate. I’d suggest attending a class with your favourite Yogarise teacher, meditating, tai-chi, or attending a dance class at the same time and day each week.
   
   
4. Start early – Set an intention to carve out some time for yourself before you begin your day. This can be anywhere from 5 minutes to 50 depending on your home life.  It will give you an opportunity to check in with yourself and to set an intention for what we’d like to receive in the day. It might be more time to rest, to connect with friends and family, or it might be to receive kindness from another person.
   
   
5. Eye care – in this age when many of us are spending more time online, it is important to take good care of our eyes. Staring at a screen for 8 hours a day is very damaging. Eye exercises, alongside eating more foods with melatonin such as bananas, and using anti blue light software for computers will support your eyes during this period.
   
   
6. Drink more water – being still and sitting for long periods of times can be dehydrating, so drink a lot more water, which will also give you a regular rest from your screen. 
   
   
7. Move – whether it is yoga, Pilates or dancing, find ways to regularly keep moving and stretch out the glutes from sitting down. Make the most of getting outside each day.
   
   
8. Stay connected – join groups and regularly connect with friends, families and communities to stay connected and nourished.
   
   
9. Laugh – find programmes or friends to laugh with. Laughter really is a great way to release stress and tension.
   
   
10. Be heartfelt – this is a period for us to connect to ourselves and others from a place of heart. Ask your heart what it needs each day and allow yourself to receive what you’ve asked for. Focus on what you do have and allow your heart to be nourished by that. Gratitude goes a long way.

Anita Jasser is a trainee body psychotherapist offering Zoom sessions at the moment – if you’d like to find out more and book a session with her, you can email her here.