How to Calm Those Jittery Nerves

There are so many reasons for people to feel jittery. In addition to winter weather which can add to this feeling of nervous restlessness, this time of year is notorious for post-holiday job layoffs and cutbacks which lead to an increasing fear of employment security.

The bills that loom after all that holiday spending increase worries about how quickly you can pay them off and not suffer the high interest fees added to the actual amount of what you purchased. The fact that it gets dark quicker means less opportunity to spend outside in the sunshine, which is an important source of Vitamin D as well as mental health, can lead to even more jittery feelings.

Spending time with family and friends can curb loneliness that many of us feel during winter, but it can also be the source of bad nerves. Being with family and friends too much can have similar adverse reactions experienced by not seeing them enough. Although it might seem like a lot of life’s troubles are out of our hands, here are some things we can control.

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·      Eat what’s in Season – The experts were serious when they said you are what you eat. Foods that aren’t in season tend to be loaded with preservatives to keep it fresh which a lot of times adds up to a lot of empty calories. If you aren’t sure what’s in season, check with your local farmer’s market or organic grocery store.

·      Drink Enough Water – Drinking enough water, about 8 glasses a day, is ideal to keep everything running smooth. It flushes toxins out of your body. It clears up your skin, and helps lift the fog caused by preservatives in our foods which gives us the power to think more clearly and make wiser decisions, which also reduces our jitters.

·      Exercise – It was probably one of your resolutions anyway. Even if you just take a walk around the block at lunchtime it’s better than nothing – and you get the added bonus of Vitamin D from all that sunshine. If you’re still jittery, try some kind of a gentle exercise, like meditative yoga or Pilates to help relax.

·      Get Enough Rest – Ask doctor how much sleep you need, & how you can take healthy steps to do it. Cut out caffeine, use blackout curtains, add white noise, and do whatever else it takes while maintaining a healthy lifestyle to get the minimum required sleep. Insomnia leaves us feeling jittery an on edge.

Sometimes an upcoming lifestyle change can cause us to feel jittery. Weddings, funerals, a big presentation at work, college exams, and similar things can add a lot of stress to our lives. This is the time to cut out caffeine and make sure you schedule some time for you in your day planner to avoid nerves getting the better of you. If you find that your jittery nerves are interfering in your life to the extremes then see your physician.