Turning anxiety into action

Anxiety doesn't have to hold you back

Background by Angelina Litvin on Unsplash

If you're an anxious person like I am, you know how debilitating it can be. Constant worries, doubts, and a general sense of unease can cloud your day-to-day life. When I first broke into the community space, my anxiety was through the roof. I constantly questioned whether I would be a good community manager.

But everything changed when I learned how to use my anxiety as a driver for creating action and impact. Instead of allowing it to hold me back, I used it as fuel to move me forward. It was a game changer when I shifted to this mindset, and in this post, I’m going to share how you can channel your anxiety into action too.

“Nothing diminishes anxiety faster than action.” — Walter Anderson

Acknowledging this feeling and accepting it

The first step in transforming anxiety into action is acknowledging and accepting your feelings. Recognize that nervousness and anxiety are common in community building, especially when taking on new projects or facing uncertainties. When you accept these emotions instead of resisting them, you open yourself up to greater clarity and better decision-making.

My breakthrough came when I stopped trying to suppress my anxiety and instead accepted it as a natural response to challenging situations. This acceptance made my anxiety less paralyzing and allowed me to move forward with greater confidence.

Tip: Start by taking time to reflect on the root causes of your anxiety. Write down your thoughts and feelings in a journal or discuss them with a spouse, friend, or mentor. Acceptance can provide you with a sense of control over your emotions.

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Channeling anxiety into being prepared

Anxiety often arises from uncertainty or fear of the unknown. By channeling your anxious energy into preparation, you can help calm your nerves and boost your confidence.

I like to consider myself a high-functioning person with anxiety, so instead of letting it hold me back, I use it to stay on top of things. For instance, creating detailed to-do lists and planning ahead helps me stay focused and productive.

Tip: Identify what's causing your anxiety and turn it into actionable tasks. Break down larger goals into smaller steps, and create a clear plan of action. Crossing off tasks as you complete them provides a sense of achievement and motivation to keep you moving forward.

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Don’t overdo it

It's easy to let anxiety lead to overwhelm and a sense of feeling stuck. But the key is to prioritize and focus on what you can accomplish rather than getting lost in a sea of tasks.

Give yourself permission to tackle just a few high-priority tasks each day, so that you can maintain productivity without feeling overwhelmed.

Tip: Organize your tasks by priority, starting with the most urgent and impactful. Limit yourself to completing 2-4 high-priority tasks each day, leaving other items as ‘nice to haves.’ This approach can help you stay focused and also reduces the risk of burnout.

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Be transparent and ask for help

Some days are not going to go according to plan, and that's perfectly normal. When you find yourself struggling, it's important to reach out for help. For example, I’m grateful to have open and transparent communication with my manager which helps ease feelings of overwhelm and anxiety. I know that if I’m vocal about what I’m experiencing then we can put together a game plan to support this.

Tip: Establish open lines of communication with your team and manager. Share your challenges and progress transparently and early. Asking for help when you need help leads to more effective solutions.

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It can be quite a doozy living with anxiety, but you have the option to use it as a tool for pushing you ahead when channeling it correctly. When you acknowledge and accept your feelings, channel your anxiety into preparation, and take decisive action, you can and will empower yourself to move forward.

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Thank you for reading,
Max