Tired of productivity tips that don’t work? Ditch the formulas and embrace weird ways of moving forward. Our brains, especially neurodiverse ones (or perfectionistic ones, like mine), seek novelty, fun, and dopamine hits. So start stupidly small and experiment with what works for you. Let’s explore more ideas (31.5.25).

Anxiety is a normal stress response—our body's way of reacting to pressure, challenges, or perceived threats. While everyone experiences it differently (from freezing to intrusive thoughts or perfectionism), anxiety often whispers lies that hold us back. Here are some of those lies and how to overcome them. (28.5.25.)

Anxiety, avoidance, and procrastination are deeply connected: anxiety often fuels avoidance, and procrastination becomes the go-to coping strategy. This cycle of fear of discomfort/ failure leads to delaying tasks (which feels good in the moment but creates more anxiety). Start to break this cycle by staying with anxiety (letting it fade) and taking imperfect, messy action. Discover other helpful tools to lessen avoidance behaviours and self-sabotage. (24.5.25.)

How can I be a “witness” to my moods and thoughts, observing them without getting swept up by them? Is it possible to create space between myself and my inner experience, noticing thoughts come and go like clouds in the sky? Or is being triggered, reactive and angry just part of being human? I’ll explore easy mindfulness tools to help me stay grounded when triggered (21.5.25).

Eustress is a good stress that motivates and energises us to go after our goals. It comes from the Greek word “eu,” meaning good, and “stress”. While anxiety is often seen as a negative, perhaps learning about eustress could improve stress management techniques. Could stress, anxietyand fear be a force for good, making us more emotionally resilient? (20.5.25.)

Anxiety is constant worrying, feeling on alert and racing thoughts. Symptoms include sweating, a racing heart, overthinking and difficulty focusing. This can drain energy and is linked with sleep issues, depression and other mental health issues. We’ll explore what anxiety feels like and what techniques can help. (19.5.25.)

Anxiety asks, “What if I fail?” So we avoid what matters. Avoidance brings short-term relief, but over time, it fuels fear and self-doubt. And yet, we can learn how to work with anxiety and feelings of discomfort. In therapy, we call this “getting in the boat,” and moving forward. So, how can we face anxiety (rather than run away from it)? (16.5.25).

When you fail, how do you speak to yourself? For many with anxious minds, that voice can be harsh and full of fear. But it’s not the truth. It’s a brain trying to avoid danger. What if, instead, you said, “I’m learning”? With practice, kind self-talk can become your new default. It starts with treating yourself like a friend. (15.5.25.)

“Focus on progress, not perfection.” We’ve all heard this phrase. So, but why do we agree but secretly not agree to this? Perhaps because society conditions us to go after the shiny gold star, promotion, and life goal without much thought to process. Burnout? So what. Stress? Side-effect of success. So, how can we break perfection by embracing messy, imperfect action? (14.5.25.)

If I could talk to my Anxiety, what would I say? Would I explore the best way to deal with anxiety? Or, see which anxiety symptoms still affect my daily life? Would I be mad, angry, or start to use radical acceptance to let go of anxiety (facing the fact that anxiety doesn’t go away quickly)? Here’s my open letter to anxiety (13.5.25).

Avoidance is a natural response to anxiety and fear, often helping us stay safe. If we “avoid” what brings us worry, we get short-term relief because we don’t have to experience anxiety. And yet, when the situation arises again, we usually ignore or avoid the issue. This reinforcement of avoidance teaches our brain that we can’t handle our fears, which fuels the cycle of avoidance (increasing our anxiety). So, what can be done to face our fears? What better questions can we ask ourselves to shift from avoidance to taking action? (8.5.25.)

Emotion regulation is being able to understand and manage your feelings and responses in a balanced way. It doesn’t mean ignoring emotions or suppressing how you feel with fake smiles. It’s being authentic by pausing, reflecting and choosing how you’d like to respond rather than react impulsively (regretting it later). Here are more thoughts on the importance of emotion regulation for overwhelm, stress and anxiety. (7.5.25.)

When you’re anxious, the last thing you think about is being grateful. You may sigh at the thought of doing a gratitude journal as “just another thing to do.” I’m exploring easy ways to shift the anxious mind to gratitude to expand my perspective and bring a little lightness and joy into my days. (6.5.25.)

Imagine tomorrow morning waking up to happy, productive and uplifting thoughts. “I can’t wait to start the day”, you say as you rise and shine. “As if,” you’re probably thinking. Today, I share some ways I’m challenging anxiety to start moving into action (despite the self-doubt, perfectionistic thinking, and the need for 100% control). (4.5.25.)

Mom burnout results from constantly juggling work, life, and childcare, leading to feeling depleted (also known as depleted mother syndrome). Emotional and physical exhaustion can fuel anxiety and depression, which leads to a downward spiral. Instead of burning out, I’m using the concept of “finding pockets of time” —5 minutes here, 10 minutes there to journal and write. How else can we find more time in our day for ourselves? (5.5.25.)

Depression, to me, feels like a heaviness that dims everything—it can quietly drain joy, motivation, and connection. It often walks hand in hand with anxiety, which adds a layer of restlessness and fear of what’s next. Together, they can make life feel overwhelming, but with compassion, support, and small daily steps, it's possible to find light again. (3.5.25.)

This morning, in my journaling, I explored the link between anxiety and anger. For me, anxiety often shows up as self-doubt, people-pleasing, and needing reassurance. But when I ignore my needs to keep the peace, it slowly builds into resentment and quiet anger. The irony? Trying to avoid conflicts does not mean conflicts won’t arise. They’ll likely show up as mean comments, passive-aggressiveness or outbursts. Here I look at anxiety, people-pleasing and anger. How can I be more assertive each day and avoid suppressing my true self? (2.1.25.)

Perfectionism often shows up with anxiety, especially in OCD. We tell ourselves being perfect will protect us from discomfort, uncertainty, or judgment—but chasing perfection usually creates more stress and guilt. Thoughts like “I have to do it perfectly or not at all” feed procrastination and waiting for the “right time.” The key? Start small, messy, and scared. Here are a few ways to take imperfect action—even when it feels scary. (1.5.25.)

Resistance often shows up as anxiety and fear of failure — it’s the mind’s way of trying to protect us from discomfort. We stay in old patterns to avoid perceived threats, as it’s “safe,” giving us the illusion of control. Anxiety magnifies worst-cast scenarios, making the fear of failing even bigger than it is. So, how exactly can we overcome the resistance to change? (28.4.25.)

Lately, I’ve been feeling anxious. I have an urgent desire to do more, yet I play small (perhaps because it’s more familiar). Neurolinguistic Programming (NLP) is helping me to get unstuck. Here’s how I’m challenging myself with messy action. (24.4.25.)