You’re stuck in traffic. You’re going to miss your flight, and the game-changing meeting at the other end of it. Your presentation is poorly executed; you’re not going to win the new client. There goes the promotion, and maybe worse. If only these anxiety-inducing thoughts could be swatted away like so many pesky insects. The good news is that there is a way to gain control over them. Bring order to the chaos by making a list. Write down what you need to do and a plan to get it done. Tackle the distasteful tasks first to get them over with — procrastinating will only increase your anxiety. If your problem is not too much to do but too little (which can be even worse), seek out additional activities to stay busy and avoid brooding. Too much disorganized space, including mental space, can feel oddly oppressive.
Adapted from "Keeping Anxious Thoughts at Bay," by Whitney Johnson
