health
Collect Your Testimonials
We all have those moments when we feel like imposters, like we aren’t qualified for our work or lifestyles. Anxiety amplifies this. It’s a quick trip from there to procrastination and depression. I keep a “testimonials” folder for these moments, where I save the very occasional accolade I
Apply Constraints
We know creativity thrives with constraints [https://hbr.org/2013/01/how-intelligent-constraints-dr]. But what does it have to do with anxiety [https://www.cjchilvers.com/30-practical-tactics-to-decrease-your-anxiety-intro/]? Have too much information and too many options when making decisions is great trigger for your anxiety. This is why minimalism is so popular
Have a Drink
This one is going to get me into some trouble, but it's an important lesson my doctor taught me that actually works on my anxiety, thus meeting the exact criteria for this 30-day challenge [https://www.cjchilvers.com/30-practical-tactics-to-decrease-your-anxiety-intro/]. If you have a problem with alcoholism, please ignore
Stop Scheduling Your Anxiety
You’ve read me say it several times in these anxiety posts [https://www.cjchilvers.com/30-practical-tactics-to-decrease-your-anxiety-intro/]: you must schedule all these tactics. This stems from one of the most effective tactics I’ve ever used on my anxiety: using my calendar. I could write an entire course on this
Exercise Your Brain
No this isn’t about brain teasers and it’s not about priests ridding you of demons. You can literally exercise a lot of your anxiety away by exercising your body. I did this twice in my life. The first time was in the 90s, when I first was diagnosed
Go Outside
Taking a walk, especially in a forest [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19568835], has been shown to reduce cortisol levels (a hormonal measure of stress) and depression. It’s no mistake that the human eye can discern more shades of green [https://www.cnn.com/2017/06/05/
Create a Morning Pages Habit
This one is kind of related to journaling [https://www.cjchilvers.com/journal-for-whats-now/] , in that it clears your head of recurring thoughts (open loops) that often lead to increased anxiety. Every morning, set aside some time to start your day by writing in a stream-of-conscience way. No editing. No censoring.
Journal for What’s Now
I started journaling in 2010 for all the wrong reasons. I did it mostly for legacy — so there'd be some record of my life after I'm gone. That wasn't a good reason. 1. No one will want to read it. 2. No one reads
My Hero on Halloween
I’ve always had a hard time at parties. My social anxiety disorder would have me worrying for days before the party. When I got there, I’d put on a happy face and try to say all the right things. Then, I’d go home and collapse, exhausted from
You Need to Sleep More
I don’t think there’s a single anxiety fix that will work if you don’t sleep enough. It’s foundational. It’s so important to your health, you should schedule it. I’m not kidding. My calendar has 8 hours earmarked for sleep. I get an annoying notification