In these challenging times, I’ve discovered that I have a knack for compartmentalizing my emotions. When my partner was diagnosed with a serious illness, I adeptly shifted my focus to mundane tasks like organizing family events and managing household chores. I found it easy to set aside worries about pressing matters, such as a malfunctioning appliance, to concentrate on what truly mattered.
However, during the endless days of lockdown, when it feels like the world is crumbling around us, my ability to compartmentalize has faced a significant challenge. Instead of pushing aside the overwhelming anxiety of these uncertain times to tackle my responsibilities—like working from home, homeschooling my kids, and managing the household—I often find myself consumed by the latest news updates. If not the news, then the urge to check my phone and see what’s happening outside my bubble takes over.
In a recent discussion on LinkedIn, career expert Clara Jensen suggested a valuable technique for anyone struggling to maintain focus during these unpredictable days. She advised, “Designate an hour each day to allow yourself to feel anxious, uncertain, and scared. Embrace the chaos; give yourself permission to freak out.”
The essence of her advice is simple: allocate a specific time to express your emotions and then move on to the tasks at hand. It’s crucial to acknowledge and release your feelings; bottling them up can lead to various physical health issues. Stress-related problems such as headaches, insomnia, and digestive issues are often linked to suppressed emotions. Compartmentalizing can be an effective way to process feelings without allowing them to dominate our days.
As someone who prides herself on being a skilled compartmentalizer, I found Jensen’s method particularly appealing. Instead of letting anxiety linger throughout the day, I decided to channel my feelings into a focused freak-out session first thing in the morning.
Prior to the pandemic, my mornings were dedicated to writing and organizing my thoughts before diving into a busy day of parenting. Now, they have morphed into a chaotic mix of attempts to work interspersed with compulsively checking social media for updates. On my first attempt with Jensen’s technique, I brewed some coffee, returned to bed, and immersed myself in the news without even attempting to work. I pondered the myriad responsibilities awaiting me, from my children’s education to the well-being of my family, all while feeling the weight of the world.
Surprisingly, I didn’t last a full hour. My mind eventually shifted from anxiety to lighter topics, and I found myself scrolling through social media instead. However, I managed to refocus and created a list of my worries, which helped me prioritize my day. I noticed that by giving myself permission to freak out, I reached for my phone less often when I didn’t have breaking news to respond to. This shift allowed me to regain more mental clarity and tackle my responsibilities more effectively.
It’s important to note that while the freak-out hour can be liberating, it can also be challenging to rein in once it starts. Clinical psychologist Sarah Lee warns, “You must navigate your own path through this. If a freak-out session brings relief, that’s great! But if you find yourself stuck in that mindset, it could become counterproductive.”
In these unprecedented times, we all experience varying degrees of pandemic-related anxiety, and there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. For some, the freak-out hour may be beneficial, while others may find it more effective to express their feelings sporadically throughout the day or hold them in until a more convenient time. That’s perfectly acceptable. Personally, I plan to use the freak-out hour technique on days when I know I need to detach from my phone and focus on being present with my kids.
Ultimately, it’s essential to acknowledge and process those emotions while also continuing to live our lives. For further insights on managing anxiety, check out this post here. Additionally, you can find expert recommendations on productivity tools at this site, and for much-needed resources on pregnancy, visit Progyny.
Summary
The ‘Freak-Out Hour’ technique encourages individuals to allocate one hour daily to process their feelings of anxiety and uncertainty during the pandemic. By embracing this practice, you can create a structured way to address your emotions while maintaining focus on daily responsibilities. This method allows for a healthier emotional outlet, enabling you to approach tasks with renewed clarity and presence.