8 eAZy ways to deal with morning (or daily) anxiety

 Q: I have been waking up with anxiety for the past few months. With everything that's going on in the world and my business being in trouble due to the lockdowns, I find it is hard to find the enthusiasm that used to carry me through out my day. What can I do to get the day started on the right foot and not end up exhausted in the evening?

A: I totally get it - and it is one of the reasons I haven't written in a year on this blog - I have been keeping myself afloat enough to take care of me, my family, friends and clients, but didn't have enough energy for anything else. 

So, first and foremost, I want to tell you that it's completely ok to feel the way you do. There is so much going on right now, that is absolutely normal to have anxiety about things. Usually when things feel dangerous, our natural reaction is to fight or flight. However it might be hard to do either one of those during a pandemic or current turmoil in our country and so we get anxiety because we can't fight or flight the things that are out of our control. 

Therefore, I find that the best solution for anxiety is its acknowledgement and then taking small actions that we can control. With that, here are eight things that helped me and I hope will help you. You still may not get all of your apples in a row, but since energy flows where your attention flows,  you should see improvements in your life. Try them out and let me know how you feel.

1. Start the count - first thing I do when I am waking up and still half asleep is think of everything I am grateful for - from my pillow and my apartment to my family and health. Just keep listing all the things you thankful for and you will change the vibration of your thoughts and feelings to a higher frequency. Then, if you keep up the practice, write them down at night (I have been doing that every night for the last 9 years) Soon it will become a habit to think of happy things more and you will feel better. 

2. E-motion. Emotion can change in motion. I find that when I listen to happy songs first thing in the morning and start moving to their beat, my mood goes up pretty quickly. I love anything by Agape or 80's dance songs. I do that when I am brushing my teeth, when I am driving and even when I am cooking. Also, check out these short dance workout videos by Pamela Reif. I am really loving these lately.

3. Pleasure is good. Make appointments in your calendar with yourself as your own VIP client and then schedule in little pleasurable things. Mine are - taking a beach walk, playing with SnoopDog (my puppy), taking a long hot shower or bath with rose petals followed by a cold shower (it's also a great and yet gentle electric shock therapy that can give you a bolt of energy), buying myself beautiful flowers regularly, wearing nice clothes and jewelry at home for no reason, indulging in a good book that reconnects us to the truth of who we are - eternal beings having a human experience, etc... you get the idea. Make sure to get some pleasure in every day, it will be a great medicine for the body and soul.

4. Every breath you take... Meditation and breath work are crucial with stress management. Have you heard the saying - meditate 20 mins a day, but if you are too busy and don't have time, meditate for an hour. I honestly am still not there yet where I can meditate for that long even though I took many workshops. I do however have some tracks from the Abundance Meditation by Deepak Chopra on repeat in my daily playlist, so I can hear the truth about our universe being abundant and then take time breathe quietly for a few mins. If you are on WhatsApp and want a free copy of this 21-day meditation series, email me!

5. Top supplements. It is a well-known fact that most Americans are lacking magnesium, a mineral that helps us relax as it's often missing from our food due to conventional farming. It is also the first mineral to get depleted when you eat too much sugar. This is why I take magnesium supplements in the morning and evening every day (even if I don't eat much sugar). They help me feel calm during the day and then I sleep better at night. Also, 5-HTP and ashwaganda can be good things to add to your daily plan. 

6. Skipping is good. Skip sugar, processed foods and conventional animal protein as these foods can only add to your anxiety, drops in blood sugar and adrenaline rise in your system. And it's not about being "good" and not having junk food. It's about LOVING yourself so much you want your body and soul to feel good. BONUS point: by skipping the junk, you are also being super awesome to our environment and that should make you feel good as well! If you do want something yummy, then definitely indulge, but please choose the best quality foods that will treat your body with care.

7. CBD. If all fails, try CBD supplements for day and night time. I like Crystal Body Drip the best. However, these are my last-resort tools and I use them only once in a while, like when there is a political coup taking place... you know, times like that.

8. You are what you read. And last but not least, make the following image your screensaver on your phone and re-read it frequently. Also, get on Audible.com and listen to as many inspirational books as you can. That way voices of love and peace will replace voices of anxiety in your head.