Getting over anxiety and staying calm in the digital world
We all face moments of anxiety at times. I know I do. In our age of endless distractions, media bombardment and electronic interruptions, it’s difficult to find some solace for the mind when refreshing Facebook or Twitter every two minutes seems so appealing.
But we’re just hurting ourselves when we let such stimuli run rampant in our minds, aren’t we? How does one slowly climb back up from the fall? Charlie Hoehn explains how to do this in his post, “How to Systematically Cure Your Anxiety.”
In his article, he itemizes a list of to-do items to attempt in your next month. Some of it will seem like common sense if you’ve attempted to better yourself through diet or adjusting your psychology. Even so, they’re excellent reminders to keep at it.
I’ll summarize with a quick list below, and you can check out his article for the nitty gritty details.
1. Take away negative stimuli and replace them with the positive (stop watching the news if it depresses you, unfollow online contacts who consistently write negative posts, etc.)
2. Make sure you get enough quality sleep (keep your phone away from your bed, keep your room dark, maintain optimal 68–70 degree temperature, install Flux to optimize your computer screen’s brightness, eliminate caffeine after 5pm, shut down electronic media at 9pm and get ready for bed at 10pm)
3. Engage in social sports or any workout that’s fun for you (bonus points for frolicking outdoors) — I personally like running and find it meditative… It’s a solo endeavor, but, oh, well.
4. Eat better (eliminate sugars and gluten — I’m not so stringent on this one — and drink up to 1/2 cup of coffee in the morning, eliminate junk food, take B vitamins and fish oil, eat lunches and dinners comprised of meat + veggies + healthy sides like nuts and berries, no alcohol, skip breakfast — not sure about this one either)
Personally, I’ve cut out sugars, junk food and most simple starches, but I’m not about to give up grains entirely (I just don’t keep them at home).
I also recently realized that I ought to cut out some coffee during the week as it induces nervousness and triggers the release of adrenaline, which stimulates the fight-or-flight reaction in the brain. I don’t think I need much adrenaline unless I plan on facing a bear in the woods. (Don’t get me wrong; I’m pro-coffee if you can handle it.)
I’ve just downloaded Flux and find it very soothing. It changes the temperature and brightness of your computer display as time progresses throughout the day. I plan on shutting my electronics earlier (it’s currently 8:19pm, so I’m not off track yet).
I don’t plan on skipping breakfasts.
As for alcohol, well, I’ve been cutting back a bit as well. I stick with red wine whenever I can and avoid going over the two-drink limit for guys. Key word is “avoid,” so I still have to work on that.
What do you think about these suggestions? Leave a comment of what works for you and maybe I’ll try it out.
