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If you've been feeling more on edge lately, you're far from alone.

In a national poll released in May 2026 by the American Psychiatric Association, 48% of U.S. adults said they felt more anxious than they did a year earlier, up from 43% in 2025. Money worries and current events topped the list of concerns.

Therapy and medications can help. But some simple self-care ideas can lift a person's mood and add peace and joy to everyday life.

"Fortunately, there are things that people can do on their own, either in place of a mental health professional or while waiting in line to see someone either virtually or in person," said James Maddux, professor emeritus in the Department of Psychology and senior scholar in the Center for the Advancement of Well-Being at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia.

These techniques can help people cope with life's stresses and emotional traumas and feel happier, he said.

Spending just 10 to 20 minutes on this quiet activity helps a person slow down and pay attention to what's going on inside, Maddux said.

"And research shows that those brief periods can carry over into the rest of the day," Maddux added.

Becoming more aware of what you're thinking and feeling is a big step toward learning how to manage thoughts and feelings better, he said.

" Mindfulness activities can be helpful for dealing with anxiety," psychologist Richelle Concepcion, of Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu, said in an American Psychological Association article on clinician self-care.

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