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- How To Cure Anxiety + Low Moods
Happy Monday, Friend.
I write this email today since many of us face “new week blues”.
Today, a new week gets me excited.
But for a long time, I’d be worried about the upcoming week.
Endless workloads, meetings I felt unprepared for, etc.
I’d also look back at the prior weeks and feel hopeless.
As though I’ve wasted my time, wishing to start over.
We get depressed about the past.
We get anxious about the future.
But someone who lives in the present dissipates these feelings.
Here are 7 things that worked for me to overcome anxiety and low moods:
1. I am where my feet are.
If you have one foot in the future and one foot in the past, all you can do is ignore the present.
Presence is powerful.
Focus on living in each moment.
When you live in the moment, there is no time for worry.
Be present.
2. I workout regularly.
Exercise, in many forms, has been the activity that keeps me going.
Regular exercise makes you feel good, look good, and have more energy.
I want to push my mind and body, so I’m now training for a Marathon in October.
3. I improved my sleep hygiene.
I genuinely believe most of my problems in the last couple of years stemmed from a lack of sleep.
Around 16 months ago, I’d regularly sleep just 3-4 hours a night.
That wasn’t because I was grinding until the early hours of the morning…
I simply could not sleep.
As a result, my mental and physical performance tanked.
And because my mental and physical performance tanked, I was stressing myself out.
And because I was stressed out, I couldn’t sleep.
It became a vicious cycle.
For years I identified as an insomniac.
How did I overcome it?
I woke up at consistent times
Physical exertion
I halted caffeine intake in the afternoon
I read before going to bed
I got outside
4. I now create, I don't just consume.
I stopped being a consumer.
Look, there’s nothing wrong with consuming books and posts of those you want to learn from.
I’m talking about consuming brain rot content.
Create content that can help people around you improve their lives.
5. I reconnected with nature.
Don’t overcomplicate this step.
You don’t need to hug a tree.
You simply just need to walk outside.
Forests, beaches, mountains, countryside…
Nature is where we come from.
We weren’t meant to be around all of this concrete and tech.
Disconnect from it.
6. I set goals.
You need something to work towards.
It should go without saying, but most people are walking aimlessly.
Training for an upcoming Marathon has kept me focused.
When I run between now and then, I don’t just build my cardio fitness.
I feel fulfilled because I know it’s helping me achieve that future goal.
You may want to try:
A 10km race
Attaining your ideal physique
A popular hike
Learn a new skill or language
7. I became stoic.
There’s a quote from Seneca which I love:
We suffer more in imagination than in reality
Most of the "problems" you have only exist inside your head.
And the tangible problems you do face come from the way you choose to respond.
Much love,
Mason - Founder of New Mentalities