3 Simple Self Care Tips for Women With Anxiety

There are so many self-care tips floating around the web these days. As a woman who has been battling anxiety disorder for the past seven years, trust me, I’ve tried it all. If you’re like me, you recognize how imperative self-care is for living your best life but you know it’s easier said than done. In between working a full-time job, making time for friends, having a healthy relationship with your significant other, and being a good puppy mommy, you may already be worn out. Don’t fret, my pet! Here are some *simple* ways to incorporate self-care into your busy life while simultaneously keeping your anxiety at bay.

Prioritize Yourself

This is arguably the most important tip of all because this is where it all begins. You must, must, MUST prioritize yourself. As women, we are often conditioned to put other people’s needs before our own; our partners, our parents, our pals. We are applauded and championed for being selfless. Luckily these cultural norms are slowly starting to shift, which means that it is finally time to be selfish! Not in a narcissistic way, but in a way that honors your truth, whatever that may be.

So how can you actually do this?

• Feel all the feels, seriously. It’s okay to be happy, sad, and everything in between. Simply acknowledging how you feel and giving it validity makes all the difference.

• Set Boundaries! Especially with the people you love. If you’re really bummed today, maybe that means you don’t have the capacity to listen to your bestie rant about her boyfriend that keeps cheating on her. Honor that truth, even if it means you NOT showing up for someone else. Which leads me to my final point…

• Say No! Realize that you are allowed to love someone, care about someone, wish them all the good in the world and still say no. After all, YOU are important too, right? Right.

Prioritize Your Health

This may seem super obvious, but your health contributes greatly to anxiety and stress. According to Psychology Today, prioritizing your health is one of the most effective ways to combat anxiety and burn out mentally and physically.

Self-care may physically look different for all of us, but here are some of the basics:

• Get enough rest – I totally understand why babies cry when they’re sleepy and tbh I feel the same way. Unfortunately, I can’t throw a tantrum when I don’t get my preferred eight hours of sleep. But I can go to bed early when I know I have to get up early the next day. #adulting
• Nourish your body – you are what you eat! I feel 110% better when I’m eating clean, minimally processed and mostly organic foods. I’m not saying go crazy in Whole Foods. Just maybe skip In-N-Out for the second time today.
• Exercise– Get moving! Whether you’re a superstar soccer player, a graceful yogi, or anything in between, the physical movement does the body good. Even if it’s just a 20-minute walk around your neighborhood in the evening, your body will (greatly) appreciate it.

Let It Go!

Last but certainly not least, you’ve got to let it go! Channel your inner Elsa! Seriously.

Here’s the deal:

There are so many things in life that we have zero control over. The only thing we can control (barely) is ourselves. Again, I’m not a doctor or therapist. I’ m a woman with generalized anxiety disorder trying to figure out life day by day. It’s been most helpful to learn to choose my battles. I don’t have to give my energy to every situation that is eliciting a response. I can choose to disengage and take a step back. Sometimes, I can even choose to let that shit go.

By no means is it my desire to downplay, minimize, or simplify generalize anxiety and how it feels to live with such. You are the expert of your body. You know what’s best for it. These three simple self-care tips have made managing my anxiety a better experience. I hope that they can do the same for you.

If you’re into music as a means of self-care, here’s a great article on sound apps that may help.

In the words of Kaiser Permanente, live well and thrive.