Mid-Life Crisis: 4 Ways to Alleviate Worries and Bring a Brightness of Hope

As you reach the middle of your life, the everyday stresses and difficult situations could build up and cause a lot of worry and stress. Mid-life is also a time when you may find yourself caring for aging parents or dealing with an empty nest after your children have started adult lives of their own. Medical issues also become more common by middle age. Try these four techniques for alleviating your worries and bringing hope into your life.

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Practice Healthy Stress Relief

There are many healthy ways to practice stress relief in order to alleviate your worries. One healthy way is to close your eyes and count backwards from 20. Another healthy way to reduce feelings of stress and anxiety is to practice slow breathing techniques. Many people find meditation or prayer to help with reducing worry and bring in a sense of hope. Consider practicing mindfulness, which is also a part of meditation and yoga. Using a stress ball, doing stretches and drinking a cup of hot tea can also help to calm your body. Consider writing down what you are worried about and then tearing the paper into tiny shreds as a way of getting rid of your worries.

Try Muscle Testing

In some cases, worry and feelings of stress could be a result of a physical problem. Your energy or emotions could be blocked, which makes it hard to get rid of stress, anxiety and worries. Another name for muscle testing is kinesiology. Anyone can do kinesiology, and most of the muscle tests are simple and easy to do, even for a beginner. If a question has been weighing on your mind, a simple muscle test such as making a letter “o” with your thumb and index finger could help. If your finger releases the “o,” this is a weak response that indicates a “no” answer.

Focus on an Enjoyable Hobby

Focusing on an enjoyable hobby gives you something else to spend your mental energy about instead of worrying. If you have had a hobby in the past, such as fishing, doing crossword puzzles or playing board games, try to get back into that game. Connect with others who also enjoy that pastime and spend time together socializing while doing it or discussing new options, clubs and techniques. If you have lost interest in your old hobbies, try something new. Needle felting allows you to move your hands and create a finished product. Knitting and crocheting offer a physical and mental challenge. Some other hobbies to consider for stress reduction include pottery, gardening and coloring in adult coloring books.

Spend Time in the Great Outdoors

You may find a sense of hope and well-being by spending more time outdoors. Exercising outdoors allows you to breathe the fresh air, listen to the birds, observe the flowers and lower stress hormones. Even a brisk walk outdoors could yield a big boost to your mood. Consider using a walking trail that has some benches or a scenic overlook. Once you reach the overlook, you can sit and rest while simply enjoying the sights, smells and sounds of nature. Try a new physical activity outdoors, such as rock climbing, zip lining or kayaking. You might surprise yourself with your skills and enjoyment of a new outdoor pursuit.

Each of these four ways of reducing worries is a healthy way to improve your life. Developing healthy coping mechanisms for stress allows you to spend less of your time worrying and more of it enjoying life. Trying something new, getting outside, returning to your old favorite activities and connecting with other like-minded people in order to engage in conversation and have more fun.