*My Current Anxiety + Stress Helpers

If you've been following me on social media recently then you'll know that last week I had laser eye surgery and while it is a common operation, I was very happy with the experienced surgeon and the clinic I opted for, it was still a very anxiety inducing, nerve wracking experience - both before and afterwards. So I wanted to share some of the tips and products I use when I'm feeling anxious or stressed as this is what I've been relying on for the past week.

Earphones

The first and one of the most important is a pair of effective earphones, preferably earphones that are noise cancelling. I use my earphones not only to listen to music, films, TV and Youtube as a distraction but also just the noise cancelling effects can help me so much. The muffled quiet the earphones provide allows me to shut out the outside world and loud noises that can make me even more anxious and if I'm honest, I mostly wear the earphones at night as I can't fall asleep unless there is very little noise.

I couldn't wear my earphones during the surgery as I needed to listen to the surgeon at times but being able to listen to music on the way to the hospital definitely helped with my pre-surgery stress and anxiety. I know that some earphones can be very expensive but I think that investing in a pair of wireless, noise cancelling earphones can be invaluable.

Reading 

After a break of almost ten years, I started reading again in 2017 and since then it's become one of my go to stress relievers and anxiety helpers. Some of my favourite genres include: fantasy, non-fiction and historical fiction so they are the books I immediately reach for. Every time I publish my monthly reading wrap-up posts, I receive numerous comments about how I read so much and I think it's due to a few things: reading when I feel anxious or stressed, taking a book with me on the go and how I manage my time as I prefer to read rather than scrolling through my phone or watching the same TV show again and again.

Letting Go

I know that it is incredibly irritating receiving the advice of 'stop worrying' or 'stop thinking about it' but I will say that trying to let go can definitely help. I try to tell myself that whatever is making me anxious is something I cannot control and I should stop worrying about something that I will just have to deal with. Trying to rationalise my thoughts, trying to stop focusing on my anxiety/stress and letting go of negative, anxious thoughts can help so much but naturally it's much easier said than done.

Self Care & Distractions 

Lastly, basic self care such as having a bubble bath, pampering, eating your favourite foods, treating yourself and putting yourself first can help relieve stress and anxious thoughts. I also find that another benefit of pampering, spending time with friends and taking part in your favourite hobbies is that it can be a great distraction and sometimes that is all you need to reduce stress. If the issues persist or become worse, perhaps you could visit your GP for advice.

What do you think of my tips? Do you have any tips for reducing stress and anxiety? 

*this is a collaborative post