Historically, when we all lived in caves, it was the primitive part of our brain that warned us of danger and threat. It’s the fight and flight region of our grey matter, and where feelings of anxiety are located.

But in modern society, many of us understandably endure the debilitating effects of anxiety. There are countless demands made on us that can make our lives extremely stressful and cause us to feel anxious and overwhelmed.

However, when we remember that many causes of anxiety are focused on future events, such as attending a meeting, we can help reduce the crippling symptoms of anxiety. I find it helpful to have a bird’s eye view of all my worries. It certainly helps to put them into perspective, simply by writing them down – I have now banished them out of my cluttered thoughts and released them onto paper.

Whilst your worries won’t instantly vanish just because you’ve written them down, you can at least see what you are feeling anxious about. On your list, there will be things that are out of your control. As painful as it may be, it’s important to remember that you can only control your own thoughts and actions.

Next, you may well have future appointments or meetings that are causing your anxiety to peak. In these cases, planning ahead is key to reducing anxiety – getting a good night’s sleep, knowing your mode of transport etc. Give yourself time in the present to plan the event in the future; highlight these and set aside some time to get organised prior to the event.

Additionally, you are likely to have bigger worries noted down, such as lack of money, perhaps due to lockdown. In these cases, set aside some manageable units of time, an hour’s slot here and there, to work out ways in which you can save money and work out payment plans. And don’t forget that discussing worries like these with someone you trust can be extremely useful.

I find that I write my worries down daily – it helps to declutter my mind and gives me a way to work out logical solutions to my anxieties. I hope you find this helpful too.