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Overcome Fear and Anxiety by Limiting Your News Intake & 6 Things You Can Do Instead

March 24, 2020 By Stephanie 3 Comments

24 Mar

Coronavirus. COVID-19. Income. Bills. Social Distancing. Health. If these words have fear and anxiety flooding through your body, you’re not alone. The current pandemic (there’s another word) that we’re under is affecting people around the globe. These are uncertain times and we just don’t know what to expect.

When the outbreak started in China, my 13-year-old daughter was constantly worried about it. The first few weeks that this was starting to impact America, I was addicted to the media. There were mixed messages and still are. I wanted to know exactly what was going on so I could be prepared. Did we need to take it seriously? Was it really not a big deal? It felt like I needed to know.

But… the news sucks

When the world is facing what’s being called a “pandemic”, the last thing we need is for our country to be divided amongst itself. And, yet that’s exactly what the media does. They highlight the political aspect of this. Each station presenting how they see the situation from their political stances (CNN and Fox News). We don’t need all that.

The more I watched, the more stressed I got. People are dying. The economy is falling. The government is fighting.

Consuming large amounts of this was bad for my mental health. Consuming a large amount of it is bad for YOUR mental health too!

The fear-mongering that’s happening in the media should be against the law. And, while I’m not saying that news reporters are purposefully trying to lie to us about facts, it’s so hard to tell what the actual truth is. There are stats and numbers and experts on both sides of the fence. And, to be honest, the truth usually lies in the middle somewhere.

So, we need to limit our media access

We can’t control what the news is going to report on, so we need to limit our access to it instead. Since I work from home and was already homeschooling before this all started, my schedule hasn’t changed as much as what many others are experiencing. And, I still have a lot to be doing at home.

I don’t need to waste precious time glued to the news and neither do you.

So, here’s what I do instead. I check the news headlines a few times a day. And, I’ve heard of some that are only checking once a day or every other day. And, honestly, the reason I’m still checking as often as I am is because I’m waiting for our county or state “stay in place” orders.

Do what’s right for you, but I can assure you that checking the news hourly isn’t the answer.

Limit how often you watch the news, how often you check news updates on your phone and turn off any notifications on your phone that update you of news headlines. Then, and I know this is hard for many of us, limit your social media access, especially to sites like Facebook and Twitter.

Social media is full of negative energy. Even if you try not to see news updates, others will be talking about them. So, limit your access. Block the sites on your phone or set timers to limit how long you can spend scrolling each day. Whatever it is, make sure that you’re not just spending your day scrolling and stressing.

You have to choose what to think about

If you’ve been spending a lot of time stressed and worried lately, it’s time to take control of your thoughts. You can CHOOSE WHAT YOU’RE THINKING ABOUT. That was a mind-blowing realization for me a decade ago.

If you don’t purposefully choose your thoughts, then all kinds of things will enter your mind and you’ll think about them. The Bible says that we should take every thought captive to Christ. We get to choose our thoughts, which means we can choose not to live in fear over this pandemic.

I’ll be upfront with you. It’s not easy. It actually feels more like a battle, but it’s one that’s worth fighting. In the end, you’ll find more peace during trying times.

But, you can’t simply choose not to worry. I can assure you that you’re not going to just think about nothing. So instead, you have to fill your head with other things so it’s too busy to let fearful thoughts slip in. It helps me to have a scripture or song to fill my head with. Every time I’d catch myself worrying, I’d think through the verse or the song and it would shift my focus.

Staying busy also helps keep our minds from worrying.

What you can do to keep busy instead of worrying

If you’re struggling with choosing what to focus on during this time, here are some ideas:

1. Learn a new skill

It’s been amazing how many companies and individuals have responded to this pandemic by providing free resources to help keep people busy. Find an online course to learn something new. Or, YouTube is full of videos that can teach you all kinds of things.

Learn how to cook something new. Learn how to sew or make crafts. Or, build upon a skill that you already have. My daughter’s guitar classes have been canceled, but she can keep herself busy learning guitar online.

There are skills that will help you at work, skills that will help you at home, or simply things you can learn just for fun. Choose what will bring you enjoyment right now. When you’re brain is trying to learn something new, it will be too busy to worry and fear.

2. Get organized

Most of us have a closet, a room, or a few drawers that need to be organized. All this extra time spent at home is a great chance to do all those things. Deep clean your house. Reorganize your desk. Look for ways to make yourself more efficient once life’s pace picks back up again.

3. Play board games

If you’re living with others, then do things together like play board games or card games. These are things that we usually don’t make time for but most of us have lying around. Set your phone down, turn the TV off, and play a game. You’ll laugh together and be distracted from the stressors of the day.

4. Go for walks

Yes, I know that being outside can be a reminder of everything that’s going on, but the fresh air is still good for you. If you can get out on a sunny day, it’s even better. The outdoors and exercise are good for our physical health but it’s also good for fighting anxiety.

5. Read books

I’m not talking ebooks because then you might be tempted to check the news while you’re at it. Look through your bookshelf and find an old book that you haven’t read in a while. Matilda was one of my childhood favorites and it’s still enjoyable to go back and read from time to time.

I’m all for personal development books and books around your occupation, but it can also be nice to choose a fiction book and allow your mind to escape for a little.

6. Look for ways to help others

One of the best ways to take our focus off our own worries is to focus on helping someone else. While the news is full of reports on the negative things that happen around the world, there are tons of stories of people helping each other right now.

People are uniting together to sew face masks for those that need them. Young people are hitting grocery stores for the elderly. Companies are donating food to kids that aren’t getting it from schools right now. Librarians are reading to kids online. Churches are taking meals to the nurses and doctors working long hours.

Our world has millions of needs every day and even more right now. There are so many ways that we can use our skills or knowledge to help others. Not only will this be a blessing to someone else, but it takes your focus off yourself and your worries and shifts it to the good that you can do for another person.

This is what we need more of, not fear and anxiety.

We will come out of this

This might be the first global event that’s impacted our lives, but it’s definitely not the first that’s hit the world. Our lives may be shaken for a little, but this will pass. And, we have the choice to live in fear and worry right now, which will set a negative precedent for ourselves going forward.

Or, we can choose to strengthen ourselves as women right now so we can come out stronger on the other side by learning to overcome fear and anxiety.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed and scared right now, don’t be afraid to reach out to me to connect.

 

Filed Under: Personal Growth

« Does Covid-19 Have You Feeling a Little Stuck?
Feeling Stressed? Look at What You’re Talking About »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Terri says

    March 24, 2020 at 4:45 pm

    This helped me so much. Thank you for your helpful and calming ideas. I appreciate your wisdom.

    Reply
  2. Lisa says

    March 24, 2020 at 5:00 pm

    Good suggestions!
    This can be such a scary time and I really appreciate your honesty.

    Reply
  3. Cheryl says

    March 24, 2020 at 5:18 pm

    Thank you Stephanie for your uplifting words of wisdom!
    They are a light in β€œsuch a time as this”!
    May God bless you & your family abundantly! πŸ₯°β€οΈ

    Reply

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Stuck in Your Rut


I believe it’s important to reflect on and learn
I believe it’s important to reflect on and learn from each year that we face. I also believe it’s important to set goals (I’ll talk more about that in a later post). But more than anything, I believe it’s important to be aware of the mindset that you have as you work through those processes.  
  
When you reflect from a place of fear and anxiety, you will remember and focus on the negative things that happened. It becomes difficult to see the good.  
  
When you only reflect on the good things, you miss important lessons that you should be learning about yourself and those around you.  
  
So, I challenge you, as you work through reflecting on 2020 and planning for 2021, make sure you’re in the right mindset. Don’t get stuck focusing on the bad, even if you have to work extra hard to find the good. I promise you that you’ll find it if you look hard enough.  
  
What were your defining moments of the year? Feel free to share in the comments. If you want to hear a little of my reflection and the difference on focusing on the good vs the bad, check out my latest blog post.  
  
#planningfor2021 #reflection #goalsetting #blogger

It hit me this afternoon. That feeling of being un
It hit me this afternoon. That feeling of being unstoppable. Let me transparent: My house is a mess, the dishes are piled up, I'm a little behind on some of my work, I'm wearing the same yoga pants that I had on yesterday and I'm not really sure what the future looks like. But I can feel it anywayβ€”empowerment.  
  
Let me be clear on what I'm NOT talking about. I'm not talking about the abundance mindset. I'm not talking about believing my dreams into reality. To be honest, I don't buy into all that mumble jumble.  
  
What I do buy into is hard work. And confidence. And taking chances. I buy into and believe in the power of action.  
  
Somedays, like today, I get this super empowered feeling. I feel confidence sweep over me until it feels like my chest is just going to burst with excitement. That's something I probably wouldn't share with you on some days because I'd be too self-conscious to admit it to the world.  
  
But on days like today, where my confidence is rocking, I don't mind saying it. Because on days like today, I'm not worried about what everyone else will think as they read it.  
  
What I'm more concerned about is the fact that there are millions of women that don't allow themselves to experience this feeling. I'm worried about the fact that there are women who feel day in and day out like they aren't enough. Or that they can't make a difference in their own life. Or that all of the good things out there are for someone else and not for them.  
  
That's what I'm worried about today. Because I want you to have this feeling of intense determination that you can live the life you want to live. That you can be bold and confident, even if it's in a quiet and behind-the-scenes type of way.  
  
The world is a crazy mess right now. But you don't have to be. You don't have to buy into all that stress and drama. You don't have to live the way the media makes you think you do. You are powerful. You are capable. And you can be unstoppable.  
  
"For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline." - 2 Timothy 1:7  
 
#motivationforwomen #womeninspiringwomen #unstoppable #youcandoit #womenempowerment

Some days there's this mean girl that says all kin
Some days there's this mean girl that says all kinds of bad things about me. She works hard to tell me that I can't accomplish the things that I want to do. She reminds me of all my mistakes and how I don't measure up. She calls me names and points out all my imperfections. 
 
She's simply awful. 
 
She is my worst enemy on a lot of days. 
 
She's also me. It's my voice doing the talking. 
 
Self-talk is so important in life. You can have the best situation, be the most talented person, and have such a passion to do things but then that voice in your head jumps in and shuts it all down. 
 
Years ago, I started to really pay attention to the way that I thought. It was ridiculous. It didn't take long to realize that my poor thought life was taking me down a road that I didn't want to travel. But by not keeping my self-talk in check, I was going that direction any way. 
 
Your thoughts matter. What you allow yourself to think will be part of shaping how you feel and what you believe is possible. If you're always thinking bad things about yourself, or telling yourself that you "can't", then you won't. 
 
Your thoughts matter. Take control of your thoughts and you can take control of your life. 
 
That sounds simple enough, but controlling your thoughts is incredibly difficult, especially when you're just getting started. You'll spend the entire day engaged in a battle in your mind that others can't see. You'll collapse into bed at night because you are mentally exhausted from the battle for your mind. It's tiring work, but it's important. And just like with any change, if you stick with it, it will start to get easier over time. You'll have to fight less. 
 
One thing you can do to make it easier is to have a few positive things to shift your attention to when you catch yourself thinking negatively. I like to use Bible verses that remind me of who God says I am and what He says I'm capable of. 
 
Do you struggle with negative self talk? 
 
 
#motivationforwomen #selftalk #selftalkmatters #changeyourthoughtschangeyourlife #encouragementforwomen #encouragementformoms

Fall has always been my favorite season. I love th
Fall has always been my favorite season. I love the colors on the trees, trips to the apple cider for homemade doughnuts, and the crisp air in the morning. 
 
Beautiful, sunny, fall days are some of my favorite days. 
 
But when October hits, it can steal some of my enjoyment of the season. You see, October brings about the beginning of the 4th quarter of the year. It's a time to reflect on what I've accomplishedβ€”or didn't accomplishβ€” during the first 3 quarters. 
 
And it's a time to force myself to get realistic about what I can actually accomplish before the clock strikes midnight on New Year's Eve. Most years, I'm not where I want to be for hitting the final quarter of the year. 
 
But this year, I'm excited for the final sprint of the year. I'm excited to see what I can accomplish in a year that was full of so many challenges and difficult times. 
 
And it's not that I've done anything amazing this year compared to other years. It's just that I'm changing my focus and perspective. 
 
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Are you stressed? Do you have days where you feel
Are you stressed? Do you have days where you feel like this year is too much to handle? Are you trying to figure out what's wrong with you and why you just can't focus on what you need to? 
 
It's not just you. 
 
I'm hearing this from friends and family. I'm seeing it with my clients and picking up on it from social media posts. 
 
Don't feel like you're alone. It doesn't mean there is something wrong with you. It just means you are a human living through what's likely one of the most challenging years that you've had. 
 
2020 just seems to pile it on and many of us were already stressed in 2019 and before. 
 
Take a deep breath.  Cry if you need to. Then spend a few minutes doing something you enjoy that recharges you. Pray. Laugh.  Rest. 
 
It will be OK, even if it doesn't feel like it right now. 
 
 

#encouragementfortheday #stress #encouragementforwomen #selfcare #

I keep this quote in my weekly @asana planner. Par
I keep this quote in my weekly @asana planner. Part of my morning routine is to read this before I jump into my work day. It's so true! 
 
If you're waiting for someone else to give you the motivation you need to get things done, it's never going to happen. You need to learn how to motivate yourself. 
 
Accountability is good. Working with a coach can be helpful. But you can't help people that are unwilling to help themselves. 
 
You can read ALL the personal development books or business books in the world, but if you aren't willing to start taking action and responsibility for your life, it won't make a difference. 
 
You can have access to the best tools and the latest technology, but if you don't use them, it won't matter. 
 
You can be the most talented person in your industry, but if you can't get yourself motivated to take action, your skill will only get you so far. 
 
One way to start motivating yourself is to focus on your "why". Why do you want to make the changes in your life? Why do you want to accomplish the goals that you have set? Why is worth spending your time on? 
 
Once you know your answer, make it something you focus on regularly. Use it kick your motivation into gear. 
 
#motivation #motivationquotes #takeaction #inspiration #yougotthisgirl #setgoals #keepgoing


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I believe it’s important to reflect on and learn I believe it’s important to reflect on and learn from each year that we face. I also believe it’s important to set goals (I’ll talk more about that in a later post). But more than anything, I believe it’s important to be aware of the mindset that you have as you work through those processes.  
  
When you reflect from a place of fear and anxiety, you will remember and focus on the negative things that happened. It becomes difficult to see the good.  
  
When you only reflect on the good things, you miss important lessons that you should be learning about yourself and those around you.  
  
So, I challenge you, as you work through reflecting on 2020 and planning for 2021, make sure you’re in the right mindset. Don’t get stuck focusing on the bad, even if you have to work extra hard to find the good. I promise you that you’ll find it if you look hard enough.  
  
What were your defining moments of the year? Feel free to share in the comments. If you want to hear a little of my reflection and the difference on focusing on the good vs the bad, check out my latest blog post.  
  
#planningfor2021 #reflection #goalsetting #blogger
It hit me this afternoon. That feeling of being un It hit me this afternoon. That feeling of being unstoppable. Let me transparent: My house is a mess, the dishes are piled up, I'm a little behind on some of my work, I'm wearing the same yoga pants that I had on yesterday and I'm not really sure what the future looks like. But I can feel it anywayβ€”empowerment.  
  
Let me be clear on what I'm NOT talking about. I'm not talking about the abundance mindset. I'm not talking about believing my dreams into reality. To be honest, I don't buy into all that mumble jumble.  
  
What I do buy into is hard work. And confidence. And taking chances. I buy into and believe in the power of action.  
  
Somedays, like today, I get this super empowered feeling. I feel confidence sweep over me until it feels like my chest is just going to burst with excitement. That's something I probably wouldn't share with you on some days because I'd be too self-conscious to admit it to the world.  
  
But on days like today, where my confidence is rocking, I don't mind saying it. Because on days like today, I'm not worried about what everyone else will think as they read it.  
  
What I'm more concerned about is the fact that there are millions of women that don't allow themselves to experience this feeling. I'm worried about the fact that there are women who feel day in and day out like they aren't enough. Or that they can't make a difference in their own life. Or that all of the good things out there are for someone else and not for them.  
  
That's what I'm worried about today. Because I want you to have this feeling of intense determination that you can live the life you want to live. That you can be bold and confident, even if it's in a quiet and behind-the-scenes type of way.  
  
The world is a crazy mess right now. But you don't have to be. You don't have to buy into all that stress and drama. You don't have to live the way the media makes you think you do. You are powerful. You are capable. And you can be unstoppable.  
  
"For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline." - 2 Timothy 1:7  
 
#motivationforwomen #womeninspiringwomen #unstoppable #youcandoit #womenempowerment
Some days there's this mean girl that says all kin Some days there's this mean girl that says all kinds of bad things about me. She works hard to tell me that I can't accomplish the things that I want to do. She reminds me of all my mistakes and how I don't measure up. She calls me names and points out all my imperfections. 
 
She's simply awful. 
 
She is my worst enemy on a lot of days. 
 
She's also me. It's my voice doing the talking. 
 
Self-talk is so important in life. You can have the best situation, be the most talented person, and have such a passion to do things but then that voice in your head jumps in and shuts it all down. 
 
Years ago, I started to really pay attention to the way that I thought. It was ridiculous. It didn't take long to realize that my poor thought life was taking me down a road that I didn't want to travel. But by not keeping my self-talk in check, I was going that direction any way. 
 
Your thoughts matter. What you allow yourself to think will be part of shaping how you feel and what you believe is possible. If you're always thinking bad things about yourself, or telling yourself that you "can't", then you won't. 
 
Your thoughts matter. Take control of your thoughts and you can take control of your life. 
 
That sounds simple enough, but controlling your thoughts is incredibly difficult, especially when you're just getting started. You'll spend the entire day engaged in a battle in your mind that others can't see. You'll collapse into bed at night because you are mentally exhausted from the battle for your mind. It's tiring work, but it's important. And just like with any change, if you stick with it, it will start to get easier over time. You'll have to fight less. 
 
One thing you can do to make it easier is to have a few positive things to shift your attention to when you catch yourself thinking negatively. I like to use Bible verses that remind me of who God says I am and what He says I'm capable of. 
 
Do you struggle with negative self talk? 
 
 
#motivationforwomen #selftalk #selftalkmatters #changeyourthoughtschangeyourlife #encouragementforwomen #encouragementformoms
Fall has always been my favorite season. I love th Fall has always been my favorite season. I love the colors on the trees, trips to the apple cider for homemade doughnuts, and the crisp air in the morning. 
 
Beautiful, sunny, fall days are some of my favorite days. 
 
But when October hits, it can steal some of my enjoyment of the season. You see, October brings about the beginning of the 4th quarter of the year. It's a time to reflect on what I've accomplishedβ€”or didn't accomplishβ€” during the first 3 quarters. 
 
And it's a time to force myself to get realistic about what I can actually accomplish before the clock strikes midnight on New Year's Eve. Most years, I'm not where I want to be for hitting the final quarter of the year. 
 
But this year, I'm excited for the final sprint of the year. I'm excited to see what I can accomplish in a year that was full of so many challenges and difficult times. 
 
And it's not that I've done anything amazing this year compared to other years. It's just that I'm changing my focus and perspective. 
 
What areas of your life do you need to change your focus on in order to reclaim some of the joy in your life? 
 
#choosehappiness #changeyourperspective #4thquarter #October #femaleentrepreneur #finishstrong
Are you stressed? Do you have days where you feel Are you stressed? Do you have days where you feel like this year is too much to handle? Are you trying to figure out what's wrong with you and why you just can't focus on what you need to? 
 
It's not just you. 
 
I'm hearing this from friends and family. I'm seeing it with my clients and picking up on it from social media posts. 
 
Don't feel like you're alone. It doesn't mean there is something wrong with you. It just means you are a human living through what's likely one of the most challenging years that you've had. 
 
2020 just seems to pile it on and many of us were already stressed in 2019 and before. 
 
Take a deep breath.  Cry if you need to. Then spend a few minutes doing something you enjoy that recharges you. Pray. Laugh.  Rest. 
 
It will be OK, even if it doesn't feel like it right now. 
 
 

#encouragementfortheday #stress #encouragementforwomen #selfcare #
I keep this quote in my weekly @asana planner. Par I keep this quote in my weekly @asana planner. Part of my morning routine is to read this before I jump into my work day. It's so true! 
 
If you're waiting for someone else to give you the motivation you need to get things done, it's never going to happen. You need to learn how to motivate yourself. 
 
Accountability is good. Working with a coach can be helpful. But you can't help people that are unwilling to help themselves. 
 
You can read ALL the personal development books or business books in the world, but if you aren't willing to start taking action and responsibility for your life, it won't make a difference. 
 
You can have access to the best tools and the latest technology, but if you don't use them, it won't matter. 
 
You can be the most talented person in your industry, but if you can't get yourself motivated to take action, your skill will only get you so far. 
 
One way to start motivating yourself is to focus on your "why". Why do you want to make the changes in your life? Why do you want to accomplish the goals that you have set? Why is worth spending your time on? 
 
Once you know your answer, make it something you focus on regularly. Use it kick your motivation into gear. 
 
#motivation #motivationquotes #takeaction #inspiration #yougotthisgirl #setgoals #keepgoing
#comfortzone #getoutofyourcomfortzone #encouragem #comfortzone #getoutofyourcomfortzone  #encouragement #stuckinyourrut
Being comfortable can feel so good. But staying in Being comfortable can feel so good. But staying in your comfort zone can hold you back in a lot of ways in life. Stepping out might not feel good in the moment, but it's SO worth it in the end. 
 
What's one thing  you are going to do to step out of your comfort zone this week?  
 
#motivation #inspiration #takeaction #comfortzone

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