Movement

Keep moving.

I have to believe, for me at least, this is one of the best ways to work through anxiety and fight off discouragement. Just keep moving.

Whatever form movement takes—walking the dog, walking around the workplace, or simply getting up and taking a lap—just move.

I find that when I move, my thoughts are able to work their way through me. I’m able to focus on the things around me instead of staying trapped inside my own head. I start noticing my surroundings. I look at the cars, the street signs, the people. I observe the trees and listen to the birds. I pay attention to what’s actually in front of me.

Those little moments help.

Maybe movement doesn’t immediately solve whatever problem I’m facing. Maybe the answer still takes time. But there is something it does do.

It keeps me from continuing to build up a pot of anxiety in my chest.

So when I feel stuck, I move.

Not because movement magically fixes everything, but because it gives my mind room to breathe while I keep moving forward.

What have you been sitting with that might be easier to carry if you started moving?