5 Ways To Overcome Anxiety as an Entrepreneur

People believe if you have an anxiety, it’s something that’s easy to overcome—that by them wishing it will go away, it will. This isn’t the truth. For the love of being an entrepreneur, anxiety doesn’t mix well. It’s even harder to grow a business and take risks. It can leave you paralyzed. Sometimes it strikes when you don’t even expect it. However, if you’re an entrepreneur who’s had anxiety or panic attacks, you can still be successful. If you work at it every day.  Certain days might be easier than others.

Acknowledge what you have and create a plan to overcome. I’ve read the books and went to the therapy sessions. One stellar book I read is:  The 10 Best-Ever Anxiety Management techniques.

It’s been a long road, but I wouldn’t change it for the world. My anxiety had been so unpleasant I took four tries to pass my driver’s test and I had a panic attack on the second one. Decisions are hard to make and you fear the worst.

Quiet that voice in your head. The one that shortens your breath and makes you turn back. I want to tell you how I’ve overcome anxiety on my journey as an entrepreneur.

Journaling                                                                                          

I’ve written in my journal every day. Go here when you’re anxious. You need to get your thoughts onto paper.  You can write anywhere from a few sentences to a few pages.

Trust me, once you’re done with this exercise, you will feel better. A weight will be lifted off your shoulders. You’ll be able to go back in time. You can realize why you shouldn’t have been worried.

There’s something magical when you get your thoughts on paper. They aren’t so monstrous anymore. You can release your full self and everything you’re feeling. When I perceive my anxiety rising, I write in my journal.

You’ll be calmer and more at peace. Your journal will be your go-to friend.

Meditation

Something simple we take for granted. At the moment of me writing this, I’ve mediated 113 days in a row. Meditation has become an intricate part of my battle against anxiety.

When your anxiety strikes, your thoughts will be everywhere. You will think relative to the past and future. You won’t be thinking about the present. The present is the best place to be. You can’t fix the past and you don’t know what the future will bring.

Do meditation every morning. I recommend doing it when you first wake up and right before you go to bed.

You can use a guided meditation in the beginning and then move on to your own version.

You will want to focus on your breathing. One exercise I do is breathe in for four seconds. Hold for four seconds. Breathe out for four seconds and hold for four seconds. This simple breathing technique will work wonders.

You’ll be in a state of tranquility. You’ll drift into the place of peacefulness. Your mind won’t have any thoughts. When the practice is over, you’ll be ready for the challenges that will come your way.

Yoga

I took up yoga last year after having tried meditation. Let me tell you, the results are similar. In yoga, you focus on the breath and your self-awareness. You’ll be in the present again. Your mind will be fixated on nothing.I recommend doing yoga every single day in the morning. Sometimes I do exercises that last up to an hour. Other times I only do ten minutes if I’m busy. You have to incorporate yoga into your daily routine.

Mixing yoga and meditation can be an effective measure against anxiety attacks. Yoga makes you understand who you are as a person. When done, you’ll be rejuvenated and much more at peace with yourself.You will develop physical and mental strength. Yoga is difficult. You will be in positions and poses that are uncomfortable. Over time, they’ll become easy.

Fear List

 A fear list is something I created when I had had enough of my anxiety dictating my life. I felt trapped. No matter what I chose, it would be wrong. My life became stale, and I became unhappy. This is not a good combination. I watched a revitalizing movie. I’d garnered new inspiration, and I would put it to its best use.

With a pen and paper, I wrote everything I was afraid of what could go wrong. I didn’t even write the consequences. My anxiety would come back. My list was around twenty items long. I taped it to my door so I would see it every day. Just looking at a handful of items gave me a panic attack.

I numbered the fears one through ten. One being a small fear and ten being a big fear. I started small and worked my way through the list. It took a while to carry out every fear, I could do it and move onto another list.

This quelled the anxiety I had, and since then, I’ve been able to block it entirety.

Classical Music

I remember that when I told my friends I listen to classical music, they called me their grandfather. Well, their grandfather knows something they don’t know.

Listening to slow music can cut your stress and quiet your breathing. This article written by Psych Central illustrates how classical music can slow your pulse and heart rate, lower blood pressure, and decrease levels of stress hormones.

I’ve found a love of writing through classical music. I could write every day. When I work on my novel, my mood is outstanding after a few hours of classical music.

You can listen to classical music while you’re driving the car, walking the dog, or even when you’re reading. I listen to classical piano. Go on YouTube and find a playlist for you. It’s been a hidden gem of mine that few people know. If you do a task and you’re happy after having done it, something must be right. Classical music does this for you.

Don’t take my word for it, you must listen to it on your own.

Overcoming anxiety has been an experience. There has been good and difficult times. I learned that you have to acknowledge it and overcome it. Once you get control, your life will change.