Natural ways to BEAT ANXIETY

However busy you are, you can find time to fit in some self-help. Here’s what the experts suggest to help you tackle stress

- TANYA PEAREY

If you have three minutes

Listen to some music. Most songs last around three to four minutes but if you’re a classical music or opera fan, have it on in the background for a calmer atmosphere. Studies suggest that listening to music helps to lower our heart rate and levels of the stress hormone cortisol. Make your own personal soundtrack of your favourite uplifting songs to play when you need a boost.

If you have one minute

Sniff camomile oil. Or pop some into a diffuser. It’s a very subtle aroma but has been used for centuries to soothe stress and anxiety, and help to aid restful sleep. It’s popular in teas for promoting a sense of calm. ‘It’s the essential oils in camomile that give it most of minute its beneficial properties,’ says nutritionist Saf Hareshe. So go for high essential oil content when choosing a tea. ‘It’s also great for digestion,’ explains Saf. ‘It soothes nerves and muscles in the gut – the place where we often feel our stress and tension.’

If you have two minutes