12 tips to FIGHT ANXIETY

From what you eat to what you say - how to beat the bad habits that cause so much stress

- KAREN EVENNETT

HABIT YOU ALWAYS SAY 'YES!'

You're not alone. A lot of us are in the habit of people-pleasing - struggling to say no to things because we want to be helpful, keep the peace or be liked by others, says Chloe Brotheridge, author of The Anxiety Solution. 'But always saying yes can lead you to feel overwhelmed, burnt out and stressed.'
TRY THIS 'Instead of instantly agreeing to something, buy yourself some time by saying "Let me check my diary and get back to you"," says Chloe. 'You can then consider whether to say yes - or no.

HABIT YOU ALWAYS PUT THINGS OFF

Procrastination may seem to relieve the stress of having to tackle a challenging task, but it creates more anxiety as the deadline approaches, says Chloe.
TRY THIS 'Use the Pomodoro Technique,' says Chloe. 'Set a timer for 25 minutes to work exclusively on a task before taking a five-minute break. The timer and the promise of a break help to focus and get things done more easily. With the idea coming from a tomato (pomodoro) 50 timer, the full pomodoro cycle repeats the process three more times, followed by a longer break of around 15 to 30 minutes.

HABIT YOU'RE LIVING ONLINE

Scrolling through social media feeds can drain and stress you, says Lynda Holt, honorary professor of social leadership at the University of Salford.
TRY THIS 'If you know something is going to deplete you, compensate with something that brings you joy. Life's little pleasures are more effective than big activities - as long as you allow yourself a moment to enjoy them.

HABIT YOU KEEP SAYING SORRY