MarieClaire
  • News
  • Fashion
  • Beauty
  • Lifestyle
  • Career
  • Bridal
  • Podcasts
  • Beyond Beauty
  • Video
MarieClaire
  • News
  • Fashion
  • Beauty
  • Lifestyle
  • Career
  • Bridal
  • Podcasts
  • Beyond Beauty
  • Video
MAFS' Aleks and Ivan exchange wedding vows
Watch 4:43

MAFS' Aleks and Ivan exchange wedding vows

{headline}

{headline}

Apparently Playing Christmas Tunes Is Bad For Your Mental Health

Apparently Playing Christmas Tunes Is Bad For Your Mental Health

Natalie Bassingthwaighte Opens Up About Healing After A Breakdown

Natalie Bassingthwaighte Opens Up About Healing After A Breakdown

The New Form Of Anxiety You Might Not Realise You Have

The New Form Of Anxiety You Might Not Realise You Have

Anxious? Stressed? This Is The Exercise You Should Be Doing

Anxious? Stressed? This Is The Exercise You Should Be Doing

{headline}

{headline}

Job Strain Has Been Linked To Common Mental Illnesses

Job Strain Has Been Linked To Common Mental Illnesses

Women Are More Likely To Suffer A Heart Attack From Stress

Women Are More Likely To Suffer A Heart Attack From Stress

This Woman’s Powerful Facebook Post Captures What Suffering From Anxiety Is Like

This Woman’s Powerful Facebook Post Captures What Suffering From Anxiety Is Like

{headline}

{headline}

Science Says Listening To This Song Can Reduce Anxiety By Up To 65%

Science Says Listening To This Song Can Reduce Anxiety By Up To 65%

Celebrities Get Real About Living With Anxiety

Celebrities Get Real About Living With Anxiety

Survey Finds 40 Percent Of Australian Women Diagnosed With Anxiety Or Depression

Survey Finds 40 Percent Of Australian Women Diagnosed With Anxiety Or Depression

Rebecca Gibney On Dealing With Anxiety

Rebecca Gibney On Dealing With Anxiety

7 Signs You Could Be Living With High-Functioning Anxiety

7 Signs You Could Be Living With High-Functioning Anxiety

We Need This Anti-Anxiety Blanket In Our Lives

We Need This Anti-Anxiety Blanket In Our Lives

Sarah Wilson's Private War

Sarah Wilson's Private War

  1. Home
  2. Stress

5 Simple Ways To Reduce Stress And Anxiety In 3 Minutes Or Less

No 'namastes' or 'oms' required - by Lucy Bode
  • 16 Mar 2020

It’s the mantra of the modern-day woman: “I’m so busy.”

Watch Below: How To Take The Next Step In Your Relationship When You Have Anxiety

Yup, in an age where we’re switched on all day, erryday (looking at you, work emails) taking time to de-stress is practically a luxury.

That’s why we hit up Georgia Foster and Virginia Alexandra, co-authors of The 3 Minute Anxiety Fix, for their best hacks for fast-tracking the trip to zen-town.

1. The brain reboot

Close your eyes and roll them up toward the top of your head.  Place the tip of your tongue just behind your top front teeth and apply pressure. Smile with the lips closed and continue to pressurise the hard palate with your tongue on the roof of the mouth with the eyes focused at the top of the head. Continue this for 2 ½ minutes. When first doing this you may feel pain at the back of your tongue, if this is the case, don't worry, it's just your central nervous system strengthening.  If rolling your eyes is too intense, relax your focus at the bridge of your nose. Doing this exercise will reorganise the chemistry in the brain and make you feel way happier.

Stupid Brain GIF - Find & Share on GIPHY

2. The throwback hack

Keep positive photos or favourite happy songs handy on your phone, so when you are feeling anxious and fearful about life, your mind can scan these moments and trick you into being in a better space. Routinely do this every hour so your mind becomes familiar with being in this positive state.

3. The patience provider

Place your thumb pad over top of the nail of your middle finger and flick the middle finger on both hands (like when you get a hand massage). This sends the signal to both hemispheres of the brain to correspond with each other allowing the opportunity to bring you back into a state of equilibrium. Keep flicking your fingers for three minutes, it may hurt a little but continue anyway. This is particularly beneficial for anxiety reduction and for impatience either with yourself or someone else.

Wait Waiting GIF - Find & Share on GIPHY

4. The self-doubt sucker

Each time you hear a negative inner comment from yourself such as "I am feeling scared" or "it’s all too hard, I’ll just give up now" imagine a stop sign in your mind and say to yourself, "I am going to park this unhelpful thought." Then, follow this up with something positive such as, "It is safe to feel calm and happy" while looking up at the ceiling. Repeat this 3 times to break the negative state instantly.

Positive Kim Kardashian GIF - Find & Share on GIPHY

5. The belly balancer

Cross your arms and place your hand under each armpit and find the spot that is tender and apply some pressure. Close your eyes and focus on your breath as you continue applying the pressure for 2 ½ minutes. On the inhale the belly comes out and on the exhale the belly comes back in towards the spine.  This helps the central, sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems to strengthen. This exercise will balance and calm you.

You can find the 3 Minute Anxiety Fix here.  

This article originally appeared in Women's Health.

  • Lifestyle
  • Stress

6 issues for $35 -

Subscribe to marie claire

Subscribe Now
6 issues for $35

6 issues for $35 -

Subscribe to marie claire

Subscribe Now
6 issues for $35

Recommended to you

MAFS' Aleks and Ivan exchange wedding vows
Watch 4:43

MAFS' Aleks and Ivan exchange wedding vows

{headline}

{headline}

Apparently Playing Christmas Tunes Is Bad For Your Mental Health

Apparently Playing Christmas Tunes Is Bad For Your Mental Health

Natalie Bassingthwaighte Opens Up About Healing After A Breakdown

Natalie Bassingthwaighte Opens Up About Healing After A Breakdown

The New Form Of Anxiety You Might Not Realise You Have

The New Form Of Anxiety You Might Not Realise You Have

Anxious? Stressed? This Is The Exercise You Should Be Doing

Anxious? Stressed? This Is The Exercise You Should Be Doing

{headline}

{headline}

Job Strain Has Been Linked To Common Mental Illnesses

Job Strain Has Been Linked To Common Mental Illnesses

Women Are More Likely To Suffer A Heart Attack From Stress

Women Are More Likely To Suffer A Heart Attack From Stress

This Woman’s Powerful Facebook Post Captures What Suffering From Anxiety Is Like

This Woman’s Powerful Facebook Post Captures What Suffering From Anxiety Is Like

{headline}

{headline}

Science Says Listening To This Song Can Reduce Anxiety By Up To 65%

Science Says Listening To This Song Can Reduce Anxiety By Up To 65%

Celebrities Get Real About Living With Anxiety

Celebrities Get Real About Living With Anxiety

Survey Finds 40 Percent Of Australian Women Diagnosed With Anxiety Or Depression

Survey Finds 40 Percent Of Australian Women Diagnosed With Anxiety Or Depression

Rebecca Gibney On Dealing With Anxiety

Rebecca Gibney On Dealing With Anxiety

7 Signs You Could Be Living With High-Functioning Anxiety

7 Signs You Could Be Living With High-Functioning Anxiety

We Need This Anti-Anxiety Blanket In Our Lives

We Need This Anti-Anxiety Blanket In Our Lives

Sarah Wilson's Private War

Sarah Wilson's Private War

MarieClaire
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy

Brands

  • Beauty Crew
  • Home Beautiful
  • Who

Our Network

  • Better Homes and Gardens
  • BHG Shop
  • New Idea food
  • New Idea
  • Girlfriend
  • That’s Life
  • Practical Parenting
  • All Recipes
  • Perth Now
  • The West Australian
  • 7Plus
  • Airtasker
  • 7NEWS
  • SocietyOne
  • Health Engine
  • Starts at 60
© 2021 Are Media PTY LTD
Get more from Marie Claire

Magazine Subscription Offer

6 issues for $35 -

Shop This Offer
6 issues for $35