Hop onto Twitter and you’ll see the trending hashtag #thingsthatgivemeanxiety, with people worldwide sharing their nervous triggers. But when ‘anxiety’ is no longer just a clinical diagnosis, and has become part of our day-to-day vernacular, something’s gotta give.
We’re here to dive into five totally natural, tried and tested ways to support stress and anxiety, to help us feel balanced, achieve lighter moods and deeper sleeps:
1. Mindfulness
2. Talk therapy
3. Breathwork
4. Movement
5. Herbal support
1. Mindfulness
Sitting cross legged on a cushion chanting ‘ommm' isn’t the only way to get mindful.
Both seated and moving forms of meditation (like yoga) have been shown to lower cortisol levels - one of key stress hormones. Whether you pull a few slow yin yoga poses like child’s pose or a supine twist before bed, go to a vinyasa class or try out a meditation app, getting a form of meditation into your day is one of the very best ways to reduce stress and improve your mind’s ability to deal with stressors as they arise.
Our favourite apps are Calm and Insight Timer. Or, just search ‘meditation’ on YouTube and give one a try! It can feel odd at first simply sitting and being, but once you get used to dropping into this oasis of calm you’ll never look back.
2. Talk therapy
Whether the shoulder you cry on is that of a friend, family member or trained professional, remember that a problem shared is a problem halved.
The belief that therapy is for the weak is SO outdated. Those who have the courage to face their challenges head on are the strongest among us. If it’s within your means, investing in a good psychologist or counsellor can be invaluable. They will walk with you as you explore your mental landscape, giving you tools to manage your emotions without getting overwhelmed.
But if therapy isn’t your jam right now, lean on friends, family, or whoever you trust to take your feelings seriously. Leaning on a friend will not only make them feel great that you trusted them enough to get vulnerable, but will also give them the permission to trust and get vulnerable with you too.
3. Breathwork
Breathing exercises, practiced either as part of meditation or separately, are a powerful tool to calm and soothe the mind and body.
The beauty of breathwork is that it can be done anytime, anywhere. In traffic? Drop into your breath. About to give a big presentation? Your breath is right there with you.
To give it a go, relax your shoulders and put a hand on your belly and breathe in, causing your belly to inflate. When you breathe out, allow the belly to deflate and relax down. Now try to do this for a count of 4 on the inhale, hold for a count of four, and exhale for four. Repeat until you feel your body calming.
Deep belly breathing has a similar effect to meditating where your focus is on something outside of your mind which works to ground us.
4. Movement
Whether it’s five minutes of dancing in your bedroom or an hour-long gym sesh, when we move our bodies we release endorphins, and endorphins make us happy! These fabulous neurotransmitters increase feelings of pleasure and delight and help to reduce discomfort. What’s not to love?
More is not always more when it comes to movement, and a stress-busting exercise regime certainly isn’t about pushing yourself past your limit, which can actually have a detrimental effect on our stress levels. Walking, yoga, pilates or dancing to your favourite tune are our favourite ways of moving. But at the end of the day, whatever movement you love to do is the best type for you.
An added bonus is it can feel good just knowing you’ve made an effort to move that day, when you hop into bed at night.
5. Herbal help
Kava is a humble herb originating in the pacific islands. It has a long history of traditional use for calming and soothing, but more recently science has caught up to prove what Pacific Islanders have always known.
Trials have shown that kava is an effective support for anxiety, with participants noticing lowered levels of stress and increased coping abilities.
Possibly the best thing about kava is that it works pretty much instantly to ‘take the edge off’. It's extremely handy when you’re feeling overwhelmed and need some rapid relief.
Kava can also aid with deep, quality sleep - which does wonders for stress levels in its own right.
Eve Chill Pills are nothing but the best-quality kava in a high-strength dosage that gets the job done, with great reviews from users to back up its effectiveness!
At the end of the day, there are no magic bullets or one size fits all solutions to stress and anxiety. But weaving one or more of these suggestions into your daily routine is a powerful place to start.
If meditation sounds too heavy duty, start with a walk or a couple of minutes of belly breathing. Or if your day is too demanding to squeeze in a workout, try five minutes of movement like squats or dancing in your PJs before starting your day. It all counts!
Or, trying a natural supplement, like Eve Chill Pills, is a great first step to get some balance back. Then, with a bit more space in your mind, you may feel ready to try some of these other suggestions. Just know, you’re not alone. We’re all in this together!
We’re here to dive into five totally natural, tried and tested ways to support stress and anxiety, to help us feel balanced, achieve lighter moods and deeper sleeps:
1. Mindfulness
2. Talk therapy
3. Breathwork
4. Movement
5. Herbal support
1. Mindfulness
Sitting cross legged on a cushion chanting ‘ommm' isn’t the only way to get mindful.
Both seated and moving forms of meditation (like yoga) have been shown to lower cortisol levels - one of key stress hormones. Whether you pull a few slow yin yoga poses like child’s pose or a supine twist before bed, go to a vinyasa class or try out a meditation app, getting a form of meditation into your day is one of the very best ways to reduce stress and improve your mind’s ability to deal with stressors as they arise.
Our favourite apps are Calm and Insight Timer. Or, just search ‘meditation’ on YouTube and give one a try! It can feel odd at first simply sitting and being, but once you get used to dropping into this oasis of calm you’ll never look back.
2. Talk therapy
Whether the shoulder you cry on is that of a friend, family member or trained professional, remember that a problem shared is a problem halved.
The belief that therapy is for the weak is SO outdated. Those who have the courage to face their challenges head on are the strongest among us. If it’s within your means, investing in a good psychologist or counsellor can be invaluable. They will walk with you as you explore your mental landscape, giving you tools to manage your emotions without getting overwhelmed.
But if therapy isn’t your jam right now, lean on friends, family, or whoever you trust to take your feelings seriously. Leaning on a friend will not only make them feel great that you trusted them enough to get vulnerable, but will also give them the permission to trust and get vulnerable with you too.
3. Breathwork
Breathing exercises, practiced either as part of meditation or separately, are a powerful tool to calm and soothe the mind and body.
The beauty of breathwork is that it can be done anytime, anywhere. In traffic? Drop into your breath. About to give a big presentation? Your breath is right there with you.
To give it a go, relax your shoulders and put a hand on your belly and breathe in, causing your belly to inflate. When you breathe out, allow the belly to deflate and relax down. Now try to do this for a count of 4 on the inhale, hold for a count of four, and exhale for four. Repeat until you feel your body calming.
Deep belly breathing has a similar effect to meditating where your focus is on something outside of your mind which works to ground us.
4. Movement
Whether it’s five minutes of dancing in your bedroom or an hour-long gym sesh, when we move our bodies we release endorphins, and endorphins make us happy! These fabulous neurotransmitters increase feelings of pleasure and delight and help to reduce discomfort. What’s not to love?
More is not always more when it comes to movement, and a stress-busting exercise regime certainly isn’t about pushing yourself past your limit, which can actually have a detrimental effect on our stress levels. Walking, yoga, pilates or dancing to your favourite tune are our favourite ways of moving. But at the end of the day, whatever movement you love to do is the best type for you.
An added bonus is it can feel good just knowing you’ve made an effort to move that day, when you hop into bed at night.
5. Herbal help
Kava is a humble herb originating in the pacific islands. It has a long history of traditional use for calming and soothing, but more recently science has caught up to prove what Pacific Islanders have always known.
Trials have shown that kava is an effective support for anxiety, with participants noticing lowered levels of stress and increased coping abilities.
Possibly the best thing about kava is that it works pretty much instantly to ‘take the edge off’. It's extremely handy when you’re feeling overwhelmed and need some rapid relief.
Kava can also aid with deep, quality sleep - which does wonders for stress levels in its own right.
Eve Chill Pills are nothing but the best-quality kava in a high-strength dosage that gets the job done, with great reviews from users to back up its effectiveness!
At the end of the day, there are no magic bullets or one size fits all solutions to stress and anxiety. But weaving one or more of these suggestions into your daily routine is a powerful place to start.
If meditation sounds too heavy duty, start with a walk or a couple of minutes of belly breathing. Or if your day is too demanding to squeeze in a workout, try five minutes of movement like squats or dancing in your PJs before starting your day. It all counts!
Or, trying a natural supplement, like Eve Chill Pills, is a great first step to get some balance back. Then, with a bit more space in your mind, you may feel ready to try some of these other suggestions. Just know, you’re not alone. We’re all in this together!
