8 Anxiety Hacks to Lower Daily Stress

Some days, your mind won’t stop spinning. The smallest things set you off, and before you know it, you’re tense, distracted, and stuck in a loop of worry you can’t shake.

I know that feeling all too well. Anxiety used to rule my days—especially when I was deep in bad habits like binge eating, drinking, gaming, and mindlessly scrolling. I’d wake up stressed and go to bed restless. But that’s not how it has to be.

Here are eight simple, down-to-earth anxiety hacks that have helped me lower daily stress and find real peace. These aren’t magic fixes, but they do work if you stick with them—and even starting with one can make a difference.

1. Start Your Morning with Stillness, Not Screens

If you’re grabbing your phone before you even get out of bed, you’re not alone. I used to check messages, social media, and emails first thing. Without realizing it, I was letting other people’s noise set the tone for my day.

Now, I give myself at least 30 minutes of no screen and distractions when I wake up. I say a short prayer. I take a few deep breaths, and so some light stretching. Sometimes I even plan the day ahead if I haven’t done that already the previous night.

That small window of peaceful time helps my nervous system stay calm. It gives me space to think about what really matters before the world rushes in.

Try this: Tomorrow morning, skip your phone for the first 15 minutes. Breathe. Stretch. Thank God for the new day. See how it feels.

2. Create a “Go-To” Grounding Practice

When anxiety hits, we forget how to come back to the moment. One quick thing that helps me stay centered is the 5-4-3-2-1 method.

Here’s how it works:

5 things you can see
4 things you can feel
3 things you can hear
2 things you can smell
1 thing you can taste

It brings your focus out of your head and into your body. It’s helped calm my mind during flashbacks, panic attacks, or even just on stressful days when things feel too loud.

Find your own version. Whether it’s holding a cold glass of water, listening to birds outside, or splashing cold water on your face—find something that brings you back.

3. Watch the Caffeine and Sugar

Look, I love coffee. It’s part of my morning rhythm. But I had to admit that three large coffees by noon was not helping my anxiety.

It took me time to realize this. I’d feel jittery, moody, and edgy by mid-morning. Same with sugar. That crash after a sugary snack made it worse.

Now, I go for one cup of coffee in the morning. I try to stick to natural foods and avoid processed sugar during the day.

Try this: Pay attention to how caffeine and sugar affect you. Notice if certain things make your mind more restless—and start swapping them out step by step.

4. Use Short Bursts of Deep Work

When you feel overwhelmed, productivity can feel like climbing a mountain with no top. What helped me was working in short, focused sprints instead of grinding all day.

I learned to block off 2 to 4 hours of “deep work” each day. During that time, I cut out distractions—no email, no phone, no multitasking. Just one task I care about.

These focused blocks helped me build momentum without draining myself. And that momentum brought confidence, which lowered anxiety.

Try this: Set a 25-minute timer today. Pick one task. Work hard on it, then take a 5-minute break. That’s the Pomodoro method, and it works wonders.

5. Celebrate One Small Win a Day

When I was overweight, stuck in addiction, and feeling lost, I thought I had to change everything overnight. That mindset actually paralyzed me and added even more anxiety.

What finally helped? Celebrating tiny wins.

Whether it was choosing a healthy meal, going for a 10-minute walk, or shutting down the computer on time, I began to feel progress—and that feeling was addictive in a good way.

Small wins remind you that you’re moving forward. They build confidence. And that confidence pushes anxiety to the background.

Write down one small win at the end of each day. You’ll be surprised how good that feels.

6. Talk to God Daily

This one changed my life more than anything else.

When I truly reconnected with my Christian Orthodox faith, prayer became more than just a ritual. It became my safe place. A constant friend I could talk to—every single day.

Now, when anxious thoughts creep in, I whisper the Jesus Prayer:

“Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”

It slows my breath. It reminds me I’m not alone. And that deep, real connection with God brings a peace nothing else can give.

If faith is part of your life, lean into it. If it’s not yet, maybe now is the time to explore it. Reach for it in times of anxiety—and see what happens.

7. Move Your Body Daily

I used to think exercise had to mean an hour at the gym. But when I weighed over 250 pounds, that felt impossible, and it added more stress, not to mention that all the gyms were closed 4-5 years ago and we all know why that happened, I don’t even wanna go there right now.

So I flipped the goal. Instead of “working out,” I made it about just moving. A walk. A few bodyweight exercises. Some resistance bands exercises, as well as stretching my back when I got up from my screen.

Fast-forward and I’ve lost over 110 pounds. But it all started with 5-minute walks around the block. Sure, I also counted my calories and watched what I ate, but yeah, movement is also important of course.

Movement gets your blood flowing and directs your energy somewhere useful. It lowers cortisol and shifts your mindset.

Start small. Move your body today—even if it’s just dancing to one song in your kitchen.