Just take a breath
The world is moving at a faster pace than ever. News keeps coming at us all day, every day. From every direction, on every screen. And it’s hardly ever good. We’re being bombarded with messages from all over. Our “productivity culture” urges us to get more done faster, to do more, see more, go more places. But sometimes you need to take a breath. Just stop. Turn off the screens and get your hands dirty.
Time out for me
More experts are advocating “adult time-outs.” And it’s a great idea. Best-selling author and entrepreneur Chris Guillebeau in his book Time Anxiety promotes the idea of a “reverse bucket list.” You actually celebrate things that you’ve done. “The reverse bucket list is just like it sounds—what have I done that is interesting or notable, whether to other people or not? I think it’s helpful to just celebrate or even observe some of those things. You can do it as a big picture, like a life bucket list, or you can just be like, what’s your list of things that you’ve gotten done today? For those of us who tend to be thinking more about the future, perhaps reflecting on what we’ve been able to do thus far can actually bring us to a centering point.”
Take a look back
I’ve found that looking back on your day can be especially helpful on those days you feel like you haven’t accomplished anything. You know, those days when you’re busy all day and don’t have much that’s tangible to show for it. I call it the “Amazing Box” that you use to just note highlights of your day – good stuff that you did or that made you feel good. Your Amazing Box can be physical or digital – you can actually drop slips of paper that you’ve written on into a physical box. And it can be fun to pull slips out at random when you’re feeling low. But, yes, sometimes a digital box is easier – if you write notes on a digital platform then you always have it with you.
Looking at your notes about good things you’ve done is a great way to calm your brain. It lets you step back from all the tumult and say, “Yes, I did that. I’m really okay.” Or, “I’m really good at that.” Sometimes you need to take a breath and step away from the crazy now and look back a little.
Take up a granny hobby
Guillebeau and other experts are embracing “granny hobbies” for calming anxiety also. Getting your hands moving prevents you from doomscrolling and getting caught up in that swirling chaos. Folks have been nurturing their sourdough starters since the pandemic. Others are turning to crafts like knitting and crochet for their calming effects. Still others are getting their hands dirty and gardening. I do love to knit, but my personal favorite is needlework. Nothing like pushing a needle in and out of material for calming your brain. The activity is deeply satisfying, plus at the end you’re left with something beautiful or good to eat.
Sometimes you need to take a breath. Step back and calm your brain. Put the anxiety on hold, if only for a little while. Look back at your day. Or work with your hands and get some peace of mind.
