City life is full of energy, but also draining. Constant congestion on the roads, noise from densely populated roads, strenuous work routines, and escalating living costs that include every luxury and need are not subjective, especially in metropolitan cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai. Massive urban environments, for many, cause stress, which, if unchecked, may seem impossible to contain.
What Anxiety Looks Like in a High-Pressure City Environment
Stress often becomes a part of your daily life in a city, where navigating public transit and the pressure to outdo your peers at work can leave your nervous system reeling. This stress can manifest itself as anxiety that often takes the form of:
- Sleep difficulties
- Random thoughts that race through your mind
- Irritability
- Social avoidance
- Physical symptoms like headaches
Without effective coping mechanisms, such as talking to a therapist in Chennai, Mumbai, or wherever you are based or practicing meditation, this anxiety can severely impact your overall well-being.
Strategies to Keep You Calm
To reclaim your calm, here are some simple everyday practices you can start with:
1. Look for Brief Pauses Throughout Your Day
While you wait for the perfect time to chill out, take mini breaks during your day. Taking a few minutes of silence inside your car parked somewhere or inside a stairwell, or robbing 5 minutes from your laborious work life to quickly listen to your favorite song, resets your focus on your work.
To have the greatest benefit, close your eyes and take a deep breath whilst performing these small acts.
2. Limit the Noise Inside Your Mind
We all encounter unpleasant situations and have difficult conversations with others, but it’s important not to replay them in our heads. Although it may seem alright, it can deeply affect our mood, sometimes for days.
Constant messaging and endless notifications on social media can put your mind in overdrive, especially when you’re not doing too well mentally. So, limit your exposure to online content to cut the noise in your mind.
3. Keep Your Body Active
Feeling good is directly related to physical activity. You don’t have to join a gym or follow a difficult workout; a simple walk in the park early in the morning or after dinner at night can keep you feeling fine.
And yes, at work, ditch the elevator for the stairs. This is a surefire way to get in some physical activity every day.
4. Practice Aromatherapy While You Sleep
Falling asleep to calming scents is a gentle way to feel relaxed. You can light a small candle on your bedside table (if you have one) or on a table not too far from your bed.
Add a few drops of your favorite essential oil. Lavender and chamomile are many people’s go-to options, but you should go for whatever works best to help quiet your mind.
5. Build a Routine and Stick to It
When you follow a set routine, its predictability gives you peace of mind and lessens anxiety. Fix a time to wake up every morning, make time to eat without rushing, and set aside some time for recreational activities. In a busy city, routine can be the one thing you need to ground you.
Bonus: You may also explore tai chi, originally a Chinese martial art that is now an emerging form of exercise. In this, practitioners perform light, flowing motions while taking deep breaths to relieve anxiety.
Closing Thoughts
In India, brushing off anxiety as regular stress is very common. But you don’t have to. Instead, look out for the warning signs and seek help if you need more than these three tips.
If you feel that your anxiety is taking control over you and preventing you from living your life as you wish, please do not hesitate to contact a professional; we strongly encourage it!
Being restless, staying on the verge, and losing one’s temper here and there are not good signs. These symptoms are deep-rooted anxiety and should never be taken lightly.
(DISCLAIMER: The information in this article does not necessarily reflect the views of The Global Hues. We make no representation or warranty of any kind, express or implied, regarding the accuracy, adequacy, validity, reliability, availability or completeness of any information in this article.)
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