Not to brag, but I’m exceptional at compartmentalizing. When my partner received a terminal diagnosis, I managed to shelve my worries and focus on day-to-day tasks like school events and family responsibilities. In caretaker mode, I could easily ignore the broken appliances and the pile of mail overtaking half my kitchen table.
However, during these prolonged days of quarantine, when it feels like the world is unraveling, my compartmentalizing skills have been seriously challenged. Instead of being able to sidestep the overwhelming anxiety of our current reality, I am frequently distracted by news alerts or the urge to check my phone for updates on the situation outside.
The pandemic has transformed me into a compartmentalizer who is struggling to compartmentalize.
In a recent LinkedIn Q&A titled “Business Unusual,” Mia Thompson, co-founder and CEO of a digital wellness platform, suggested a strategy for those overwhelmed by these bizarre times. “Try giving yourself permission to feel anxious, uncertain, and scared,” she advised. “Set aside an hour each day to indulge in that anxiety, then shift your focus back to what needs to be done.”
Her advice can be summarized as follows: dedicate an hour to your worries, then mentally close the door on that anxiety and tackle your responsibilities. It’s essential to express your feelings—bottling them up can lead to physical health issues like heart problems and insomnia. This method allows you to acknowledge your emotions without letting them dominate your entire day.
As someone who excels at compartmentalizing but found myself struggling, I was intrigued by Thompson’s approach. Instead of letting anxiety seep into every moment, I decided to dive into my feelings first thing in the morning.
Mornings have always been sacred to me. Pre-pandemic, they were my time to write and organize my thoughts before the chaos of parenting began. Now, they often devolve into unproductive cycles of checking social media instead of focusing on my work.
On my first attempt at this new method, I brewed my coffee, climbed back into bed, and consumed news articles without even pretending to work. I thought about the tasks piling up at home and worried about my children’s development, my family, and everyone who needed concern.
I didn’t quite make it to an hour. My mind quickly shifted to lighter topics and social media scrolling. When I realized I had strayed from my worries, I forced myself to jot down everything that was stressing me out.
Throughout that day, I missed my quiet mornings, but I noticed I reached for my phone less when I wasn’t bombarded by alerts. This created more mental space for deadlines and helping my kids with their schoolwork. Plus, the list I created allowed me to approach my day with a clear focus—rather than aimlessly worrying, I tackled specific tasks I could control.
However, there’s a caveat to this hour-a-day freak-out technique: once you start freaking out, it can be tough to stop. Dr. Sarah Lewis, a clinical psychologist, cautioned that “everyone must find their own path through this.” If venting leads to relief, that’s great! But if it results in getting stuck in a cycle of anxiety, that’s not ideal.
It’s important to recognize that we are all grappling with some form of anxiety during this unprecedented time. There’s no single correct way to process these feelings. For some, the hour-a-day freak-out might be effective; for others, it may be too challenging to turn off once started, leading them to express their worries in spurts throughout the day or stashing them away for later. That’s perfectly fine, too.
I personally find that using the hour-a-day technique helps when I want to disconnect from my phone, allowing me to be more present with my children. What matters is acknowledging those feelings at some point and continuing to live life.
For more insights on navigating emotional challenges during this time, check out this post. If you’re interested in home insemination methods, CryoBaby’s at-home insemination kit is a great resource, along with WebMD’s guide on IUI success rates.
Summary:
The ‘Freak-Out for an Hour’ technique is a strategy suggested by wellness expert Mia Thompson to help manage anxiety during stressful times. By dedicating an hour to express and process feelings of uncertainty, individuals can compartmentalize their worries and focus on daily tasks more effectively. This approach helps in acknowledging emotions without letting them take control of the entire day, promoting a healthier mental state.
Keyphrase: coronavirus anxiety management
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