I'm feeling antsy

Do you ever get that feeling? It's that in between of kinda bored, kinda wound up? Where you have too many projects to do or finish and no ambition to do either? I'm in that mode. It's a beautiful day outside - I wish I had a hammock to swing in while deciding why I feel antsy. Alas, I don't. Instead, I've opened the window in the office and I am sitting in my swivel chair, and let me tell you, swinging in a hammock isn't nearly as nauseating as swing in a swivel chair.

But back to the antsy. It's this feeling in the pit of my stomach...but not the bad pit. The good pit, if there is one. I'm not entirely certain as to what is contributing to this feeling, but I have a couple of ideas. Reflecting on the idea that I'm still me in this new year, I have to face the fact that this year, things are going to change. It seems like I started at Fuller just yesterday, but in 6 months, I'll be graduating. That's weird. I'm going to walk across a stage, get a diploma, and toss my hat in the air in such a short time. Wait...do we toss our hats in the air in grad school? Are we too refined for that? Anyway, in my spirit, God's doing something. He's preparing me to be done with school. That preparation is making me antsy. I know I still have 6 months to go, but I feel like God's giving me all these plans for when I am done.

When I started Fuller, God made it very clear to me that this was a two year process. I knew there were big things planned for me and my life, but God knew that I wanted to take time before those big things to go to Fuller and soak up the knowledge of professors and peers. So I have and I am. And I am loving every bit of it. But this isn't the big things. Don't get me wrong, this time at Fuller has been big, huge, monumental, and radically changing for me in so many areas of my life. But Fuller isn't everything. Fuller isn't what I was created for. And knowing that Fuller is coming to a close makes me antsy. Can I really put into practice the things I've learned at Fuller? Can I take the knowledge I've gained and use them to benefit my spiritual life, my work like, my church life, my married life?

I have a lot of things still to finish at Fuller - the three classes I am in now and 6 more to start and finish. But the antsy feeling of God working is here now. The time for me to strike out on my own, so to speak, is coming and rather quickly at that. It's kind of exciting to be honest. Okay, it's 30% exciting and 70% scary. I'm trying to focus on the excitement, but that antsy feeling is still there. Maybe I've just been spinning in my swivel chair too much - somebody get me a hammock.

Twenty Somethings Too Antsy to Advertise To

Based on conclusions drawn from a recent Innerscope Research study commissioned by Time Warner, advertisers who believe consumers have the attention span to watch an entire 30-second commercial are probably deluding themselves. In the study, twenty-somethings that have grown up using a variety of personal media — smartphones, laptops and tablets — could be switching media platforms in the neighborhood of 27 times per hour when they're off work.

For the study, thirty participants were outfitted with biometric belts and video-equipped glasses to track their physiology and what they were watching during 300 hours of nonworking time, according to an AdAge article. The subjects were segmented into "digital natives" and "digital immigrants," the latter being consumers who became familiar with new digital technologies later in life. Both groups showed a high-degree of restlessness, but the "natives" switched media platforms 35 percent more than the "immigrants."

Innerscope believes that not only is it more difficult to capture the attention of these consumers, but that they consume information in a more non-linear fashion, "less inclined to adhere to the traditional beginning-middle-end mode of consuming content."

The AdAge article suggests two possible solutions to the problem: creating shorter ads that can be consumed like snack nuggets in quick bites; and creating cross-media campaigns that follow consumers as they move from TV to print to mobile to online.

Another answer is possibly offered by TV shows that engagingly integrate advertising into the program, such as NBC's new Fashion Star in which contestants compete to sell apparel designs to buyers from Saks, H&M and Macy's. Fashion Star includes a strong web and mobile component as well so that viewers can order merchandise while or immediately after viewing.

How to Stop Feeling Anxious

Have you ever for no reason just get really stressed or nervous for no reason at all? Well believe it or not you might have been having a anxiety attack. We all get nervous about things, whether it be something at work, something with your family, or something at school. However, anxiety attacks are a different level of discomfort and are more than just a little stress. So if you ever feel really nervous all of the sudden or get dizzy or light headed for no reason then I'm here to help. Below I will list some tips to help you get through these attacks and maybe even prevent them.

BREATHE!
When you experience anxiety normally your heart speeds up which causes your breathing to speed up. However, when your breathing speeds up this can cause dizziness and could cause you to pass out. So when you feel your breathing speed up start inhaling through your nose for 4 seconds and then exhale through your mouth. This is extremely important because it circulates oxygen through your body which prevents worse conditions.

Concentrate on getting rid of that feeling
In order to get rid of this feeling you have to actually tell yourself to calm down. By this I mean encourage yourself to settle down and that you are getting worked up for nothing. When you start getting anxious your thinking to yourself that you are having an anxiety attack and get even more anxious. When you convince yourself that you are fine and that you are getting worked up for no reason then it will help you get through your anxiety attack.

Relax your muscles
When you are having an anxiety attack all of your muscles tense up which is a cause of your anxiety. So just start with relaxing your legs and work your way up to your shoulders. This helps your brain to settle down and will help your nervous system to relax. When you do this make sure that you don't skip this step because it is the last step to getting rid of your anxiety.

Anxiety is a serious problem around the world and it is important to know how to tame it. As long as you follow these steps I promise that it will help if not cure your anxiety issues. So keep at it and I wish you good luck!

How To Stop Anxiety Naturally

Today I’m going to share  a very important tip for learning how to stop anxiety naturally that anyone can apply to their life right now.  When I say naturally, I mean without medication, be it over the counter or prescription.  All of my strategies on how to cure panic attacks and anxiety and depression are natural in this sense.

Get active, get outside, get back to nature
By this I don’t mean quit your job, sell all your possessions, and go live in the woods.  No… what I’m talking about is spending a little bit of time each day connecting with the world around you.  It’s very important for all of us to get outside and into the fresh air, and spend some time doing… whatever!

This could mean getting up from your desk and walking around the block a few times, or leaving your house and doing the same.  Oh it’s cold outside?  Put on a coat!  Humans were never meant to sit cooped for hours stuffed inside a house or office.  Our bodies need physical exercise and movement, otherwise all sorts of stuff starts to go wrong with us.  Our joints get stiff, our lower back starts tightening up, and our muscles literally waste away when not used.

And that’s just the physical side of it, the mental side can be much worse.  Inactivity and being sedentary is absolutely terrible for our psyche.  We are not computers who can spend 24/7 just being intellectual – we MUST get physical activity and some degree of exercise, or we throw everything way out of balance.  You see, exercise is one of the most effective natural anxiety remedies out there.

In my personal experience, the times in my life when I’ve felt most awful, anxious and depressed, were also the times when I was in my worst physical shape.  Of course I’m not saying this was the only factor, but it was certainly a major one.  And I can see this in action in my life today.

If it’s been a few days since I’ve worked out, or if I’ve been stuck inside for a while due to lousy weather, I start to feel antsy, anxious and go a little bit stir-crazy.  But if I can get outside for a nice long walk, jog, bike ride, or drag myself to the gym, I always feel soooo much better afterwards.

As many people have said before, exercise is nature’s antidepressant, so prescribe yourself some today!