In the last blog post I spoke about what I refer to as “mental tendinitis” and how the mind can suffer from repetitive strain, and display signs of strain in the form of behavioural symptoms. I promised in this post a simple adjustment that everyone can make that will relieve anxiety immediately and permanently.
Any kind of repetitive strain injury is caused by consistent and excessive loading. We will call this overloading. In order to give the part that is being injured the resources and time to recover, this load must be reduced.
In a nutshell, to reduce anxiety, list all the things that you think are causing stress, choose one and remove it.
Yes. It really is that simple. You are a binary creature. Overload your system and it will simply go into shutdown mode. To prevent overload, DO LESS STUFF.
Do this by inches. Massive changes cause huge amounts of anxiety. Change must be gradual and deliberate.
For example:
If your to do list has a hundred tasks on it, choose one that makes you feel particularly anxious, and strike it from the list. How do you feel?
Take an extra 5 minute break in your work day (this sounds like adding stuff in, but you are in fact removing the stress of continuously working) See how you feel?
Delegate a household chore that makes you anxious to your spouse/lover/kids/intelligent dog. Then actually let THEM do it. No interfering now. How was that for you?
Ask for help....remember:
Ass Saving Kit: Ask.
If you feel overwhelmed, ask a friend/spouse/clever pet to help you. Watch what happens.
(Asking people to help you makes THEM feel incredibly important and therefore good about themselves. People love to help, so ask!)
Reduce the number of stressors in your life and you will feel less stressed. Simples.
You may well think to yourself “Well I already knew that!!”. Maybe so, but do you actually DO it?
Talk is cheap. Action is golden.
J.F.D.I.
Mark
Any kind of repetitive strain injury is caused by consistent and excessive loading. We will call this overloading. In order to give the part that is being injured the resources and time to recover, this load must be reduced.
In a nutshell, to reduce anxiety, list all the things that you think are causing stress, choose one and remove it.
Yes. It really is that simple. You are a binary creature. Overload your system and it will simply go into shutdown mode. To prevent overload, DO LESS STUFF.
Do this by inches. Massive changes cause huge amounts of anxiety. Change must be gradual and deliberate.
For example:
If your to do list has a hundred tasks on it, choose one that makes you feel particularly anxious, and strike it from the list. How do you feel?
Take an extra 5 minute break in your work day (this sounds like adding stuff in, but you are in fact removing the stress of continuously working) See how you feel?
Delegate a household chore that makes you anxious to your spouse/lover/kids/intelligent dog. Then actually let THEM do it. No interfering now. How was that for you?
Ask for help....remember:
Ass Saving Kit: Ask.
If you feel overwhelmed, ask a friend/spouse/clever pet to help you. Watch what happens.
(Asking people to help you makes THEM feel incredibly important and therefore good about themselves. People love to help, so ask!)
Reduce the number of stressors in your life and you will feel less stressed. Simples.
You may well think to yourself “Well I already knew that!!”. Maybe so, but do you actually DO it?
Talk is cheap. Action is golden.
J.F.D.I.
Mark