While I do not have diagnosable anxiety, I do frequently have feelings of anxiousness that cause frequent worry, comparison, & overwhelm.
It’s been something I’ve been trying to address for years, & I think that I finally have found some tools to help! They’ve been so big for me that it’d be wrong to keep them to myself.
As always, the point of this blog is just to add more tools to your tool box—so keep what sticks & don’t worry about what doesn’t!
In this blog post you’ll learn about the three things I’ve done to significantly reduce my anxiety levels.
1. “No” Social Media
Woah, this has been hard, but it’s definitely been one of theeee biggest things to help me.
But before I dive in, I need to backtrack a bit.
I started creating content on social media a few years ago & it was honestly loads of fun. I love photography, I love creating fun & engaging videos, & I love connecting with people.
What I didn’t love?
Scrolling for “research.” Keeping up with the latest trends. Not being present because I was had to capture content. Comparing myself to other creators (unconsciously & uncontrollably) & feeling like I was constantly behind.
& the worst part?
Seeing everyone’s highlight reel.
I was in at a point in my life didn’t feel Insta worthy. I was discovering massive “opportunities for growth,” diving into shadow work, realizing I had some gnarly habits that didn’t align with my goals…
& while I was wading through muck, I was staring at highlight reels: weddings & luxury vacations & lululemon hauls & revenue goals hit, & honestly? It made things that. much. harder.
Obviously I was ecstatic for all my friends (I wasn’t being a hater lol). But it got to the point where I had to have a moment of brutal honesty with myself: is this good for my well-being?
So I said no more & deleted Instagram & TikTok ❌
But what’s funny is that when we are feeling deprived, we can find roundabout ways to keep things in our lives & then justify at least it’s not exactly the same thing. It’s better, so we’re good….right? 👀
I kept Facebook to use Marketplace, but I found myself being a total tia & going on there to check stories (like, does anyone under middle aged do that?! Clearly I was at a low point lol). Between this & YouTube Shorts, I would still catch myself in the scroll.
It’s been about six months & I’m much more in-control of my social media usage, & that feels amazing!
2. Blood Sugar Control
I’m going to write a whole blog post on blood sugar eventually, but for today I’ll stick to the basics.
As a nurse & someone who has studied lifestyle/longevity medicine for over half a decade, I had some tell-tale signs that something was “off” with my health.
- I started developing some skin tags (a sign of insulin resistance).
- I was craving massive amounts of sugar & was snacking throughout my workday.
- I was constantly overwhelmed at work. It’s like my emotional capacity was nonexistent & any little thing could throw me off. I would call B several times a day to complain about my job, & that’s not the kind of energy I wanted to bring into my relationship.
By some fate of the universe & the YouTube algorithm, I stumbled upon a video by a biochemist/online educator who goes by Glucose Goddess. I watched a video of hers & it was like I could finally connect the dots.
I learned that having your blood sugar go up & down can cause mood changes & cravings, & I was starting to wonder if maybe this could help…
While I knew I didn’t have diabetes (I got my A1C checked at my physical last year), I was really curious if following her hacks would impact me at all.
I figured, what do I have to lose?
Best case scenario I notice a huge shift, worst case scenario I eat a more whole foods. Sounds like a win-win to me!
I bought her first book & started with some of the tips. Apple cider vinegar before a meal with added chia for extra fiber, eating in the right order (veggies first, then proteins & fats, then carbs), changing my breakfast from a smoothie to a warm salad bowl, & moving after some meals. The result?
My cloud of anxiety lifted. As my work caseload grew, my sense of overwhelm did not. I stopped calling B with complaints & instead came home with leftover energy to love on him well, just how he deserves!
My sugar cravings all but completely went away. You know what I wanted the other day? Cucumbers. I went to Trader Joe’s for a snack & munched on cucumbers & almonds, not my favorite Australian licorice!
Sometimes “healing” can take exorbitant amounts of time & it can get discouraging to say the least. You’re making changes, but nothing is changing. With this, I noticed a shift in my mood & energy levels the very same day!
I am so grateful we live in an era of life-saving medications, but as a nurse & a board-certified nurse coach, I get nervous that this rise in medications puts us at risk of overlooking the really simple things that could positively impact on our health. Loving relationships. Real foods. Sunshine. Sleep.
Anyway, make sure you binge some of her podcasts! Let me know if you what questions you have about blood sugar & snag her book to learn more about the specifics of why these small changes are so powerful!
3. Being Around My Boyfriend, B
It seems one of the biggest themes I’ve talked about is how important your environment is, especially the people you surround yourself with.
The truth is, I lucked out BIG TIME. Brendan is the best thing that’s ever happened to me. He is kind & silly & endlessly empathetic. He is always down for a lengthy cuddle sesh or a spontaneous dance party or a deep convo. Most importantly, he is positive.
You know that saying that you’re the sum of the five people you hang around? Well, I have been reallyyyyy hoping that B’s positivity & zest for life would rub off on me 😅
He’d get home super late from work, give me a huge hug & offer to make dinner & I would think…how the heck can I be like that?
The truth is, of course I couldn’t be like that! How could I be positively influenced by his positivity if I was surrounding myself with anxiety-inducing content on social media & causing energetic crashes in my body?!? Like, what did I expect??
Now that my mind is clear & I am nourishing myself in a way that supports my well-being, I have the capacity to allow B’s beautiful energy to penetrate my soul.
& honestly, that’s a reminder of how healing happens. It’s sequential.
In Brianna Wiest’s book The Pivot Year, she says “everything inspiring is layered upon itself through time. Everything is continuously and consciously chosen, over and over again, until it forms into reality.”
There ya have it! 3 super simple ways I have significantly refused my anxiety.
Lmk if you’re also taking a social media break, getting curious with how your food impacts your mood, or super appreciating your partner’s great energy!
