Simple Ways to Cut Anxiety and Enjoy Life More
Practical tips to unplug, de-stress, and focus on what truly matters
“Years ago, my mother used to say to me, she'd say, ‘In this world, Elwood, you must be’–she always called me Elwood—‘In this world, Elwood, you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant.’ Well, for years, I was smart. I recommend pleasant. You may quote me.” —Elwood P. Dowd in Harvey (1950)
Harvey is a wonderful movie about man who drinks a little too much (he didn’t have the advantage of the Dietary Guidelines) and has a friend who is six feet, three and half inches tall—who has “overcome not only time and space, but any objections.”
What’s great about James Stewart’s portrayal of Elwood, is that he is both calm and happy, no matter what people say or do around him. We can’t always do what Elwood did—wrestle with reality for 35 years and “finally win out over it,”—but we can change our outlook.
The Toll of Negative News
Constant exposure to negative news and addictive clickbait can be “talkic” and lead to “increased anxiety and depression. Research shows that negative headlines can keep people stuck in a “pattern of frequent monitoring,” leading to worse mood and more anxious scrolling. This phenomenon has been called “doomscrolling,” “headline anxiety,” and “headline stress disorder.”
Many people seem to agree. Consider these statistics:
75% say violence and crime are major stressors.
73% say mass shootings are major stressors.
76% say the future of the nation is a major stressor.
83% say inflation is a major stressor.
62% say the racial climate in the U.S. is a major stressor.
Depression is rising in preteens (8-12), and 20 percent of students aged 12-17 have been diagnosed with depression, anxiety, substance use disorder, or suicidal thoughts. Similarly, nearly one in five adults report experiencing anxiety or depression.
What Can We Do About This?
There are several ways to regain control of our mental well-being:
Take Control of Your Phone
When cell phones first came out, they were big, clunky, and mostly used by wealthy people. Now, everyone is constantly reachable—but that doesn’t mean you have to be. If you are really important (i.e., busy), people can wait for your response. Set boundaries, respond when you have time, and untether yourself. It reduces anxiety.
Limit Politics.
Be mindful of how much political content you consume, especially the kind designed to provoke outrage. Avoid clickbait like “Do you care about what [X group] is doing? If so, you need to read this right now to save America.” Issues won’t be solved overnight, and certainly not by your $5 contribution or your mental breakdown over the latest headlines.
Get Kids Off Screens
Encourage children to participate in sports, outdoor activities, reading fiction, hobbies, or simply hanging out with friends at the mall. Anything that pulls them away from screens is a win.
Try Mindfulness and Exercise
I’m still a novice, but mindfulness activities like meditation and certain kinds of yoga are great for anxiety and focus. What I do know is that exercise—particularly the kind that gets your heart rate up—works wonders for clearing your mind. Be sure to include anaerobics, where it is hard to catch your breath. For me, that’s going to be a brisk hard half-mile swim. A walk down in the woods, where the only sounds are birds chirping, can also do the trick.
Turn off the Car Radio.
Driving—especially in low-traffic areas—can actually be relaxing. Try it without the noise.
Eat Better, Eat Less.
Simple advice, but effective. You’ll feel better.
Find Your Own Peace
With the constant chatter around us, life has become more stressful—it’s toxic. As John Prine sang in Spanish Pipedream:
Blow up your TV, throw away your paper
Go to the country, build you a home
Plant a little garden, eat a lot of peaches
Try and find Jesus on your own.
Maybe he and Elwood were on to something.