Phone a friend or Google for help and you'll see that the most popular recommendations for soothing anxiety revolve around expensive and inexpensive self-care tips, exercise, and diet habit changes. Of course, those are all great suggestions but those options can be costly and take more energy than you have at the moment.
While you're working toward becoming that soul-cycling vegan queen with the 7-step skincare routine, an instant low-effort pick-me-up is possible in the meantime. If the thought of yoga and breathing exercises gives you the anxiety it's supposed to eradicate, try some of the ideas below:
Get Into A Good Horror Flick
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This may seem counterintuitive, but hear me out. Watching a quality horror or thriller movie will keep your mind away from your issues and make them seem minuscule in comparison.
In one of my favorite films, Insidious Chapter 3, a character is followed around by a frail corpse-like demon in a hospital gown who's trying to possess her. It may seem silly but once the credits flashed and I came out of the trance-like state good films put you in, I let out a sigh of relief that my day to day life isn't even half as stressful.
Trying A Little Stress Relief With Kinetic Sand
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Kinetic sand is an enhanced version of a stress ball. It's regular sand mixed with silicone oil which makes it feel incredibly soft and silky. Molding or squeezing the sand has a similar effect to watching "Oddly Satisfying" videos on YouTube. Even therapists recommend it because of its proven ability to soothe and calm. At under $10, it's affordable and almost impossible to make a mess, so it's worth a try.
Hit The Road For A Day Trip
Getty ImagesTraveling cross-country or out of the country isn't necessary to clear your mind. If you find yourself yearning for a change of scenery, sometimes what you need is right next door. Hundreds of people have explored even the most seemingly mundane locations. There are definitely parts of your city and state that you haven't explored that will leave you pleasantly surprised.
Journal Your Deepest, Darkest Thoughts
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No matter how close you are to your family, friends, or spouse there are still some things you're probably keeping to yourself. But problems can arise when you become consumed by unresolved issues you're too afraid to share with others. Instead of suppressing your emotions or dealing with incessant inner dialogue, you can try your hand at self-therapy. Getting your thoughts down on paper can help you see things clearly and ultimately resolve your dilemma.
Journaling can also help you figure out other things about yourself that you weren't aware of. The daily practice of free-writing and looking over what you've written will reveal areas of your life that need improvement. You might also find hidden interests and ways to self-soothe that you can add to your own list.
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RELATED
Here are some of my favorite takeaways from three standout panels featuring Jordan Chiles, Marsai Martin, and Kandi Burruss.
Leveling Up Your A-Game with Jordan Chiles, Morgan Shaw Parker, Chelsea Fishman, Laura Correnti, and Tabitha Turner-Wilkins
Jordan Chiles
Paras Griffin/ Getty Images for Power Play
Olympic gymnast Jordan may have medals and magazine covers to her name, but her mindset is refreshingly grounded. “The day I finally feel pressure,” she said, “will be the day I know there’s still more for me to learn.” For her, joy—not pressure—is the fuel. Her confidence isn’t performative; it’s rooted in family, self-worth, and authenticity.
“Everything I’ve done in my career—tattoos, long nails, rocking my crew at the Olympics—that’s all me. It’s not because someone told me to do it. It’s because I felt confident doing it. And that’s where my ambition comes from: being my authentic self.”
For Morgan Shaw Parker, President & COO of the Atlanta Dream, the conversation around pressure went even deeper. “Legacy work” is how she described her mission—navigating male-dominated spaces, sometimes pregnant and pumping on NFL team planes. “After COVID and George Floyd,” she shared, “it became clear to me: vulnerability is power. You don’t have to show up perfect to lead.”
Chelsea Fishman, founder of Atlanta's first bar dedicated to women’s sports, Jolene Jolene, shared how the haters (especially the Reddit kind) were her confirmation: “All those comments saying it would fail—those were the signs that I was doing something right.” She’s hosted 25+ watch parties already and is building the very community they said would never come.
This panel also touched on ambition, authenticity, and owning your power—both in sneakers and in suits. One of the best mic-drop moments came when the moderator flipped the question: “What if we stopped making ‘power’ a bad word for women?” A nod-worthy reminder that we’re not here to play small.
Making Your Voice Heard with Marsai Martin, Carol Martin, Miss Milan, and Heather McMahan
Marsai Martin
Paras Griffin/ Getty Images for Power Play
This panel was a masterclass in staying grounded while growing up—or glamming up—on the global stage. Actress and producer Marsai talked about what it’s like to show up in high-pressure moments when your confidence is low but the world is still watching. From red carpets to long shoot days, she reminded us that even when you’re not at 100%, you still find a way to push through.
“There have been days where I wasn’t feeling the best, but I still had to show up on this carpet. Or it was that time of the month, but I still had to go on set. I just didn’t feel as confident—but it’s about how you take care of yourself in those moments and still keep pushing.”
Her mom and business partner Carol Martin dropped gems about motherhood and mentorship: “It’s like teaching your kid to ride a bike over and over again. Now the bike is a movie or a brand.” That balance between guiding and letting go? Not easy—but essential when you’re raising a mogul and running a company.
“There have been days where I wasn’t feeling the best, but I still had to show up on this carpet. Or it was that time of the month, but I still had to go on set. I just didn’t feel as confident—but it’s about how you take care of yourself in those moments and still keep pushing.”
Miss Milan, Grammy Award-winning DJ and Doechii’s right-hand woman, lit the crowd up with her no-nonsense energy. “I built my own table,” she said. “When you build it, they can’t tell you you can’t sit.” From journaling her dreams to manifesting Grammys, her story is one of resilience and intention—and a whole lot of faith in her own vision.
This panel didn’t shy away from hard truths either: the sadness that can come with success, the fear of fading relevance, the criticism that hits differently when it’s personal. But Marsai said it best: know your why. And let it evolve with you.
The Cost of Starting Your Own Business with Kandi Burruss and Nikki Ogunnaike
Kandi Burruss
Carol Lee Rose/ Getty Images for Marie ClaireKandi doesn’t sugarcoat the grind. From chart-topping songwriter to multi-business entrepreneur, she’s built her empire one risk—and one reinvention—at a time.
“Fear equals failure. If you don’t even try, you’ve failed automatically —and you did it to yourself. I’d rather take a risk and lose money than play it safe and never know what could’ve happened.”
She broke down the real costs of entrepreneurship: money, time, and emotional bandwidth. “You think you’re going to work less when you work for yourself?” she laughed. “You’re going to work more.” For Kandi, mommy guilt and financial setbacks are part of the package—but so is the satisfaction of seeing an idea through.
She opened up about scaling back on her clothing store and temporarily closing the original Old Lady Gang location. “It felt like failure,” she admitted, “but sometimes you have to step back to make things better.” Still, she’s not one to quit. She just pivots—with precision.
One of her most memorable reflections? How her music career hiccup led her to songwriting—ultimately writing the mega-hit “No Scrubs.” That song became the key to a new lane and legacy. “You may think you’re working on one dream,” she said, “but it could open the door to another.”
Also? Kandi wants you to stop emailing her from a Gmail. “You’re doing million-dollar business on a bootleg budget,” she joked. “Invest in yourself. Start with a domain name!”
The Marie Claire Power Play Summit was a powerful reminder that ambition, authenticity, and vulnerability aren’t separate traits—they work in tandem. Whether you’re building a bar, a brand, or a business from scratch, the key is to stay rooted in your voice, your story, and your why.
And if you need a sign to go for it? Consider this your green light.
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Feature image by Paras Griffin/ Getty Images for Power Play