Consider for a moment how often you feel stressed. Is it once or twice a month, or a daily occurrence?

Do you often become distressed after something unexpectedly catches you off-guard? Have you struggled with feeling in control, or that you’re capable of managing your life?

For those who are struggling with anxiety, daily stress can be a real burden. As a result, over time, you may feel less and less in control and more and more anxious. And, of course, the current situation with COVID-19 does not help to reverse that.

But be assured, it doesn’t have to be this way. There are things that you can do to stress-proof your life and keep anxiety at bay.

1. Get Moving

Perhaps the simplest thing that you can do to stress-proof your life is to move your body. Exercise is important because it releases endorphins, and these feel-good hormones have a powerful effect on your mood. Plus, you don’t need to exercise a lot to get the benefit; something as simple as a daily 30-minute walk can provide the desired results.

2. Be Kind to Others

Being nice and doing something that’s kind for another person doesn’t just benefit them but you as well. For one, it can make you more calm and happy. Also, you feel more connected to another person, and have a greater sense of purpose. Those are really powerful positive feelings, especially if you are struggling with anxiety.

3. Boost Your Social Network

It’s important to have meaningful social connections in your life—friends, family members, colleagues, etc. Multiple layers of social networks help to create belonging, which is very important when you want to stress-proof your life. That’s because when you feel accepted by others, you feel happier, more relaxed, and content.

4. Start a Mindfulness Meditation Practice

Research has shown that meditation is an effective way to manage stress. In fact, researchers have found that practicing meditation helps with maintaining calm and keeping your emotions in control. It also helps to soothe the amygdala—the part of your brain responsible for fear and rising anxiety.

5. Have a Good Sleep Routine

Let’s face it, most of us don’t get enough sleep each night. There are lots of reasons for this, including personal habits. Yet, sleep is so important for recharging the brain and the body. If you’re lacking in this department, start by adjusting your personal habits around sleep and create a new sleep routine. Go to bed at a reasonable time, don’t eat in bed, and wake up consistently every day.

6. Give Yourself a High-Five!

It’s easy to get caught up in everyday distractions and not take a moment to acknowledge what you have done well. But when you do something well, it’s important to give yourself the credit you deserve. For instance, when you finish a project for work, take a moment to savor the accomplishment. Or when cooking a meal for the family at home, be proud of what you have created.

7. Set Goals for Yourself

Make it a habit of setting goals for yourself that are reasonable and attainable. Maybe last week your goal was to run a mile in under a certain time. Or perhaps you’re working on keeping to your schedule each day and not procrastinate. Why not try to motivate yourself to take the next step? Setting new goals that are within your reach is something proactive that doesn’t have to add stress, but instead, help you feel accomplished.

8. Shift Your Perceptions

Stress-proofing your life requires shifting your perceptions about when things don’t always go your way. Those little annoyances or missteps don’t have to contribute to your daily stress. Try to see them less as problems and more as opportunities. Or, at least, view them small bumps in the road, instead of major roadblocks.

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When you try to stress-proof your life, it requires making changes that allow you to better cope with daily stress. Of course, you can’t just make stress go away. But you can manage it by applying the above-mentioned tips.

However, if you are still struggling with anxiety and stress, even after you’ve tried to manage it by yourself, it may be time to talk to a professional. Please, feel free to contact me and find out how my approach to anxiety treatment could help you.