The past year has affected people’s mental well-being worldwide. We’re looking inward more and facing issues we may have previously ignored. When stress or anxiety creeps in, there are simple ways to alleviate it. Clinical psychologist-psychotherapist Piret Annus-Reinberg from Studio Tasapisitasakaal explains in Director magazine’s article “Stand Tall – Free Yourself from Stress” that signs of stress can vary widely and are not always visibly apparent.

Her simplest tips for dealing with stress and anxiety:

Value your time
Be more selective about what you read, listen to, and watch—reduce the noise in your life.

Mindfulness as a key to easing anxiety
Mindfulness techniques help train attention, recognize automatic thoughts and reactions, and understand your emotions and needs. With better attention skills, you can manage anxious thoughts—you can’t control what thought pops into your head, but you can choose what to do with it and whether it’s worth your attention.

When doing pleasant and relaxing activities, engage fully with all your senses. When eating, focus on the tastes and smells. When in nature, notice what you see, hear, and feel—observe the details, colors, views, and light. Sit, lie down, breathe, feel nature. Nature is a powerful stress reliever.

For practicing mindfulness, many apps are available: Insight Timer, Headspace, The Mindfulness App, Calm, Relax Melodies, Nature Free, Sattva, Vaikuseminutid.

Make agreements with yourself
You don’t need long meditations to release tension. Just taking 1–3 minutes before or during your workday to focus on your breath can help you reconnect with your body and take a step back from your thoughts. In addition to mindfulness, you can manage worry by setting aside a “worry time.” Another helpful method is a “good plans drawer”—a mental space where you store positive ideas. Instead of worrying, use your thoughts to make plans.

Idleness for health
Valdur Mikita and Fred Jüssi have emphasized the importance of idleness, and it truly is vital for the brain. In the middle of a workday, just look out the window, watch the clouds, sky, trees, or your pet—try not to think or do anything. The ability to be present is innate, but as adults, we often forget this essential skill.

Read more in Director magazine, issue 02/2021 Sirge seljaga stressist vabaks – Ajakiri Director

Enjoy the spring!