“Nothing diminishes anxiety faster than action.”

– Walter Anderson

Wellness Tip:

Know the Difference Between Fear and Anxiety

They may feel similar, but fear and anxiety are different things. Fear is a direct response to a known threat (like that spider on your wall). Anxiety is the “what if” game about unknowns (like tomorrow’s presentation). 

Distinguishing the two is the first step to knowing how to act. If it’s fear, you know to deal with immediate threat head-on. If it’s anxiety, remember the threat may not be real. 

• Ground yourself. Breathe deep and focus on the present.

• Get the facts. Knowledge can demystify and deflate anxiety.

• Find your chill rituals. Music, meditation, a brisk walk… see what works for you.

• If your anxiety is severe, don’t be afraid to seek professional help. 

Here’s a podcast episode to check out for more. What does anxiety feel like for you?

Productivity Tip:

Break Free of the Self-Consistency Fallacy

Stuck in the same old rut? That’s the self-consistency fallacy: doing things the same way just because… well, that’s how we’ve always done them! It’s a cognitive bias that stifles innovation and prevents us from exploring different methods. 

Try these tips:

• Regularly ask yourself, “Why am I doing it this way?” and “Is there a better way?” 
• Stay hungry, stay curious: Dive into a book or workshop to generate new ideas.
• Invite friends or colleagues to give their opinion and lend fresh eyes.
• Regularly review and reflect on what path you’re on and how you’re doing things.

Read more about it here.

Routine Breakdown

Alexis Ohanian, Entrepreneur & Co-Founder of Reddit

About to welcome his second child with Serena Williams, Alexis Ohanian is focusing more on work-life balance – even if a perfect 50/50 balance isn’t possible. He:

• Has an ice-cold bath for 10 minutes before taking a shower.
• Does a workout.
• Takes some time to write down his personal or career goals each morning.
• After his work day, is at the dinner table with his family at 6pm, no exceptions.

Why it works:

• Research so far suggests cold baths transform body adipose tissue, reduce insulin resistance and improve insulin sensitivity.
• It’s true – you’re more likely to achieve your goals if you write them down.
• Family time is important for a whole bunch of reasons. Don’t skip it!

Ohanian points out that routine and discipline can actually help you find magic in life’s small moments. Routine creates “the opportunity to do stuff that feels out of the ordinary and different.” That’s a great way to look at it! How’s your routine going?