Stress Management Through Mindfulness

Stress management isn’t always easy. While there are a variety of techniques you can use to help manage anxiety symptoms as soon as they arise, overcoming anxiety itself is a whole different story.

Maintaining a balanced state requires playing the long game: reframing how you relate to anxiety altogether. This becomes easier the more we integrate mindfulness tactics into our lives.

Mindfulness, in and of itself, is a self-awareness technique that allows us to tune into our bodies’ needs and what we are feeling in the moment. It is a non judgmental look at our thoughts and emotions that helps people process thoughts and memories in a meaningful and constructive way.

When negative thoughts and feelings that typically trigger an anxiety response arise, take note of them immediately and gently. Examine them, ask yourself if they are accurate, or a byproduct of how you’re feeling due to the stress response you are experiencing. It is then that other techniques and strategies can be used, such as breathwork or a favourite app, like Headspace, to help keep you at your calm centre.

Practicing mindfulness is essential in overcoming anxiety. Rather than aimlessly fighting anxious thoughts or feelings, mindfulness nurtures an attitude of open curiosity and acceptance toward your internal experiences. By cultivating a balanced awareness of our internal experiences, we can disengage from ruminative patterns and respond to anxiety with greater wisdom and flexibility.

With mindfulness also comes self-compassion — treating yourself with the same kindness you'd offer an anxious friend. This involves silencing the inner critic and replacing the harsh self-judgment that fuels our anxiety. Practicing self-compassion soothes you into seeing this as a shared human struggle deserving of patience and support.

Retraining the nervous system takes time, much like building muscle memory on a new instrument or sport. You have to commit to regular "reps" of self-regulation even on good days when anxiety feels distant. So stick with it, fine-tune it until you find your footing, and extend a generous amount of patience to yourself and the process.

In the end, overcoming anxiety requires consistent practice and a willingness to embrace the journey — especially when progress feels slow or unsteady.

When it comes to overcoming anxiety, honour the journey that you are on. Cultivating a mindfulness practice takes time, patience, practice, and compassion. Don’t get discouraged — Remember that Rome was not built in a day, and any missteps made along the way are simply opportunities to learn and grow.