Coping With Anxiety: Ways You Can Help Reduce Your Anxiety

Life can often feel overwhelming, and anxiety can build up. Anxiety is something that affects many people and is known to manifest differently in everyone. Having coping methods to help reduce anxiety is extremely important and can help you live a more well-rounded life. Socializing, spending time outdoors, and maintaining a healthy diet are all fantastic ways to help decrease anxiety. However, it is important to note that you do not have to complete every single one of these suggested activities, as one method may work well for you while the others may not. How you help alleviate your anxiety is up to you.

Socializing

Socializing with people outside of your household has been proven to be one of the most significant anxiety reducers in both the short term and long term. When you socialize with people outside your household, you are creating a community that you can rely on in times of hardship. Building a community also always gives you the chance to connect with those who share similar interests with you. Socializing is a great way to connect with others, a good outlet for stress, and a fun way to spend time. There are many ways to socialize, whether that involves playing a game online with friends or hosting a board game night with your family. 

Spending Time Outdoors

Spending time outdoors was also proven to have an excellent short-term and long-term effect on anxiety. It has even been found that spending time in green and blue spaces can improve your mental and physical health. Additionally, you can boost socialization by taking a walk with a peer or going on a picnic with friends - these are excellent social activities that involve being outdoors. Being outside and taking a moment to appreciate the world around you can also be an excellent grounding method, helping to shift your perspective and bring you a sense of calm.

Maintaining a Healthy Diet

Maintaining a healthy diet is one of the most challenging ways to improve your anxiety. There are many studies showing that maintaining a healthy diet reduces anxiety.. Although maintaining a healthy diet can be difficult, it is typically worth the effort, as it offers numerous other health benefits. Additionally, it is theorized that eating a healthy diet helps your brain’s nutritional intake and stabilizes your gut microbiome. Balancing your meals with protein, fruit, and vegetables can be challenging, but it can lead to a life with less anxiety.

Fortea, L., Solanes, A., Pomarol-Clotet, E., Garcia-Leon, M. A., Fortea, A., Torrent, C., Varo, C., Bonnin, C. del, Montejo, L., Alonso, J., Carmona, S., Soldevila-Matías, P., Alustiza, I., Arbós, D., Hidalgo-Mazzei, D., Grande, I., Vieta, E., Fullana, M. À., & Radua, J. (2025). Coping behaviors to reduce anxiety and depressive symptoms: A prospective repeated assessment study. Spanish Journal of Psychiatry and Mental Health, 18(1), 42–50. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sjpmh.2024.08.003 

Scout Gomez

Scout is an undergraduate intern for Flourish Counseling & Wellness. Scout is currently a third-year student at Colorado State University, majoring in psychology and minoring in political science.

She hopes to continue her education in the future in a postgrad setting and eventually wants to become a licensed therapist.