{"id":1085,"date":"2025-11-04T21:52:30","date_gmt":"2025-11-04T21:52:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lmja.com\/blog\/?p=1085"},"modified":"2025-11-04T21:52:30","modified_gmt":"2025-11-04T21:52:30","slug":"conquering-anxiety","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lmja.com\/blog\/conquering-anxiety\/","title":{"rendered":"Conquering Anxiety"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>As we move into November and the second month of the government shutdown, the stress and anxiety can feel incredibly difficult day-in and day-out. Our routines have been upended and our days can feel long. By the time you\u2019re reading this, the government may be open again (here\u2019s hoping!) and we can get back to work. But it\u2019s always helpful to look at how we use our free time outside of the office and if we\u2019re taking time to care for ourselves both mentally and physically. Here are a few ideas to consider if you\u2019re struggling right now:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Build in some structure<\/strong> \u2013 Right now, it might be challenging to plan your time and you may feel disorganized and disjointed. This is where building more structure into your day can help create a sense of order and calm. It can also help with some of the decision fatigue you may be feeling. Try to go to bed and wake up at the same time each day and set some daily goals to give yourself a feeling of accomplishment.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Check some home projects off your \u2018to-do\u2019 list:<\/strong> Is there a room in your house that you\u2019ve been wanting to paint? Has your basement become a breeding ground for clutter and you\u2019ve been meaning to clean it out? Keeping busy with projects that make you feel productive and give you a sense of accomplishment is a great way to take your mind off of current events <em>and<\/em> get things done!<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Take advantage of continuing education opportunities:<\/strong> If you\u2019ve been meaning to boost your skills in a certain area or become certified, right now is a good time to build your skill set. &nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Look for free or reduced-price classes in your area: <\/strong>A quick internet search will probably find classes, like painting or pottery, that are available to government workers at a reduced cost. It\u2019s also a bonus to enjoy a class with other people and get out of the house.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Look for ways to volunteer in your community:<\/strong> Helping others during difficult times is a proven way to get out of your own head and feel like you\u2019re making a difference.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Tap into your creative side or other hobby you enjoy: <\/strong>If you\u2019ve felt like you don\u2019t have enough time to pursue a passion project, like painting, writing or anything else on your list, make time for it now. Working on something you enjoy provides an outlet for stress and anxiety and it sure beats doom scrolling on your phone. Some government workers are even using their talents as a side hustle to earn extra money.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Get outside:<\/strong> Go for a walk or find other ways to enjoy the fall colors and cooler temperatures. Getting out in nature is a proven way to boost mood and relieve stress.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Find ways to socialize:<\/strong> Taking a break from the stress of the shutdown and connecting in-person with friends, family or co-workers can be a real mood booster. Some restaurants are offering reduced price happy hour for federal workers. Others have food specials to get people in the door. There are other free ways to connect with people: for example, if you like to hike, you can organize an outing with friends to enjoy the fall weather.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>So many of us are facing unprecedented challenges with the government shutdown and all of the stresses of past year, but feeling stuck and unable to plan for the future doesn\u2019t have to feel like your \u2018new normal\u2019. Working with a coach, like <strong>Leah M Joppy and Associates<\/strong>, provides a fresh perspective, goal setting and strategies to move from merely surviving to thriving. To learn more, call us at 301-670-0051 or email us at <a href=\"mailto:leah@lmja.com\">leah@lmja.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As we move into November and the second month of the government shutdown, the stress and anxiety can feel incredibly difficult day-in and day-out. Our routines have been upended and our days can feel long. By the time you\u2019re reading this, the government may be open again (here\u2019s hoping!) and we can get back to [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1087,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[6,3],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lmja.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1085"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lmja.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lmja.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lmja.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lmja.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1085"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.lmja.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1085\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1088,"href":"https:\/\/www.lmja.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1085\/revisions\/1088"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lmja.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1087"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lmja.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1085"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lmja.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1085"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lmja.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1085"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}