Our guest writer this month is Angie Litvinoff, a women’s wellbeing expert with 25 years of professional experience. And she says anxiety is something that she has simply HAD to create a special routine for.
Why? Well, during the pandemic two things happened: my anxiety levels went through the roof – I’m sure yours did too – and menopause started. This meant for me personally that I faced huge amounts of stress, resulting in a period of very ill health.
My work changed completely as I navigated being self-employed in a turbulent economic climate. I had to find a strategy to reduce my anxiety as an urgent priority, and THIS is what has worked for me ever since.
Before we start, I just want to say, I know I am not alone. The pressures of daily life for us all can create what feels like crippling levels of anxiety and this creates so much stress it is often hard to know how to stop it spiralling out of control and adding to other themes and challenges.
What I’m about to share with you is nothing new, but what you do with it in THIS combination is what matters, because it really changed my life. I can honestly say that although life presents stress, I deal with it so differently now because of the CALM I have created.
So, every morning for the next 21 days, do this, and start measuring how you feel every day on a scale of 1-10, 10 being the most stressful and 1 being the ultimate blissful CALM place of total joy and peace. I know you can do it too, because these are accessible tools, and the more you embrace them the more effective they become.
Let’s get started!
5 Steps to a Calm Day
- Start the day with GRATITUDE. Yes, open your eyes and give thanks for 3 things that really give you perspective on your life. As you do this, don’t get up just yet – just BE in the moment and think carefully, picture all those things and give yourself space to truly visualise how much they mean to you. This takes 2 minutes.
- Now do some YOGA. I do 15 minutes only, not because I don’t want to do more, but because mornings in our house are totally crazy – four people getting ready to go to school/work/wherever else – and it is only a matter of minutes until I get interrupted. I have a 10 minute online class I follow which has stretches and breathing exercises and it starts to make me feel GOOD.
- Go for a WALK. Yes, join me! Before I get packed lunches organised, I go out for a 15 minute walk, and get out in nature and FEEL the wind in my hair and the sun or rain on my face, whatever is forthcoming. This allows me to appreciate nature, and slows me right down. I know I’m in for a busy day, but knowing that I have done this for myself means I have been fully present for me, it is my gift to myself and I LOVE it.
- And before the alarms start going off and showers are had, I find a space to MEDITATE. This is a five minute activity, because I know that I don’t have long as the breakfast queue is imminent in the kitchen! I light a candle, sit in a dedicated space (I have been known to take my mat into our garage because I just need some alone time doing this , just do what works for you!) and sit and BREATHE deeply into the day ahead, if nothing else place your hands clasped to your chest and count the amount of breaths you are taking, and then just sit, feeling your breath slow and steady. This takes a further 5 minutes.
- And then last but by no means least, I JOURNAL. I write down how I’M FEELING, it could be anything, but I write it down, pour my emotions onto the page, my hopes, dreams for the day, and finish with one positive statement I SAY OUT LOUD to make it come alive for myself, something that motivates, inspires and also creates the chance for a beautiful day ahead. Again, just 5 minutes.
When the day gets stressful, I feel the morning’s work come into effect, because how I MEET the anxiety changes – you see, I have already created the right conditions to meet the anxiety and I don’t get overwhelmed by it – the five things I’ve done are way too recent, way too present, way too supportive for that. In total it takes me 45 minutes to create change, and boy is it powerful! Try it, and let us know how you get on.
Angie Litvinoff is a wellbeing expert who specialises in helping visionary women leaders to claim voice and confidence trainings and mentorships. She has developed The CALM PACK, an online resource for anxiety and you can find out more about this on her online shop page and find out about her work here www.angielitvinoff.com
