Channel Your Anxiety into Productivity

by Mike K. Post your article at Aleshatech.com

Did you know that nearly 40 million adults in the US are affected by anxiety? That’s according to data from the National Institute of Health (NIH). Of this number, around 56% feel too stressed out because of their job, reports the Anxiety and Depression Society of America.

It’s alarming to think that so many people are unhappy and feeling overwhelmed by their jobs and that many are also unable to leave and find a job that they’d find more fulfilling.

But why is it that people develop anxiety? Is there a way to solve this problem so that you won’t end up feeling depressed at the end of each day, knowing that you hate your job but can’t do anything about it?

Things to Know About Anxiety

Anxiety in itself isn’t really a bad thing. It is actually the body’s response to stress. When faced with a dangerous situation, anxiety is triggered.

This can be manifested through the following symptoms:

·       Rapid breathing or hyperventilation

·       Gastrointestinal problems

·       Feeling tense, nervous, or restless

·       Feeling tired or weak

·       Feeling a sense of impending panic, danger, or doom

·       Having an increased heart rate

·       Having difficulty controlling feelings of worry

·       Sweating

·       Trembling

·       Trouble concentrating or thinking about anything, except the present worry

·       Difficulty sleeping

Anxiety has always been part of the body’s “fight or flight” response. It was there a long time ago to help our ancestors survive the harsh prehistoric world they lived in.

In caveman times, anxiety allowed people to flee when wild animals attacked. Many even learned to fight these wild animals for food and other needs. With no clothes to buy from the mall, cavemen used skin from the wild animals to create clothing.

Today, however, we have almost everything we need at the tips of our fingers. Unlike the cavemen, we don’t have to hunt for food. Our idea of hunting for food these days is finding a new restaurant that we’ve never been to before!

Moreover, our idea of danger is different. Yes, our bodies have retained their natural survival kit. But “danger” now comes in the form of:

·       Excessive workloads

·       High-pressure situations

·       Conflict with coworkers

·       Demanding bosses

·       Long working hours

·       Low pay

·       Unreasonable deadlines

·       Fear of unemployment

Unlike cavemen who could either fight dangerous animals or flee as fast as they could, we really have no choice but to accept our situations. You wouldn’t want to join the ranks of the jobless who have trouble finding employment, right? Who cares about those tough deadlines if you have a job?

Going back to the cavemen example, those early humans had the chance to fight back and catch wild animals for food. Yet, they also had an opportunity to flee. If the danger was too much for them to handle, they could just run away.

But modern people can’t run away from their jobs just because they are feeling stressed out.

Famous People Who Managed to Overcome Anxiety

If you have anxiety and think that stress is eating away at your happiness, bear in mind that you aren’t the only one with the problem. Many famous people also suffered from anxiety but overcame it and avoided it affecting their performance.

Ariana Grande

After a suicide bomber attacked Ariana Grande’s concert at the Manchester Arena in England in 2017, the young pop star was never the same again. She admits to having dizzy spells from time to time. She also described how she would feel so happy in one instant, then sad at the next, for no apparent reason.

Through therapy, she was able to slowly overcome her post-traumatic stress disorder.

Michael Phelps

Olympic champion, Michael Phelps, might be one of the world’s best athletes, but that didn’t spare him from depression and having suicidal thoughts. Instead of hiding, he opened up and shared his struggles. It was only then that he felt better.

According to Phelps, talking about his problem gave him strength.

Ryan Reynolds

Beyond his tough, playful online persona as his movie role character, Deadpool, Ryan Reynolds battles anxiety. He admitted that even as a kid, he always felt anxious but managed to keep himself together.

Emma Stone

Would you believe that Emma Stone was just seven years old when she began having panic attacks? She readily opens up about anxiety being a part of her life but added that it isn’t who she is. She continues to experience anxiety but doesn’t let that stop her from achieving her dreams.

Prince Harry

With the trauma he experienced as a child, it’s easy to understand why Prince Harry frequently had panic attacks and was too scared to be in a room full of people. He compares his feelings to a washing machine, with his heart beating loudly and his body sweating. At age 28, the prince finally sought professional help to treat his condition.

How to Channel Anxiety into Productivity

Anxiety is something that can cause plenty of problems, yet you can also turn it into productivity.

If not used constructively, anxiety can hamper your performance, yet it can help you become more productive when appropriately managed.

Accept anxiety as a challenge

By accepting anxiety as a challenge, you’re in a position to use your fears to become stronger. What’s making you feel nervous? What are your triggers? As you learn to cope with the situation, you’ll gain the strength to better deal with your work and personal tasks.

About to panic? Get busy!

If you feel like you’re about to have a panic attack, get yourself busy. Do something productive such as arranging your schedule, creating a spreadsheet of tasks you need to accomplish, practicing your skills in modding or some other hobby, or even doing some gardening.

This way, you’ll keep your mind sufficiently occupied to avoid anxiety overwhelming you.

Stay calm

Staying calm under pressure is one of the best coping strategies for anyone with anxiety. It would be ideal to take a rest or a nap, but if you want to increase your productivity, you should simply get back to work.

By focusing on the positives, you’ll feel better and find yourself more productive despite anxiety. Remember, anxiety has long been part of our society. It’s not something to be ashamed of!

Good luck.

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Created on May 9th 2021 21:50. Viewed 201 times.

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