Think positive.

A buddy of mine recently called to chat about anxiety created from owning a graphic design company. Ahh … what a good thing to chat about. I’ll openly admit that I suffer from anxiety and constantly have to think of ways to defeat it. However, stressing the small things is also what makes me good at my job. So … we discussed ways to fight off the bad vibes, stay creatively charged and continue to deliver a great product and service. My main suggestions were to drink lots of water, find escape through literature and constantly think positive. These have all been focuses for me to start this year out right and so far they have all worked great.

I know the whole “drink more water” thing seems easy enough but many designers forget to put down the coffee or Red Bull and grab some damn water. Your body craves it so why not stay hydrated? Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE caffeine but it will and does dehydrate you. And if you’re an avid coffee or energy drink fan, realize that bombarding your body with hydration will actually make you more sensitive to your beloved beverage so it’s a win win. There won’t be any scientific data to support this but feel free to Google your ass off. Ok, that’s a paragraph on water. Time to move on.

Another thing I’ve been focusing on a lot lately is reading. Not design books or blogs teaching me how to do taxes. Books that help me escape the everyday stresses and enter a world of my choosing. Reading helps you become a better writer, exercises your mind and ultimately gives your creativity a bit of rest. At least that’s what it does for me. Ask friends for suggestions on books, find a comfortable place to escape and get ready to turn the world off. Trust me.

My last and most important point was the power of positive thinking. I’ve recently read a few things that talk about how negative thoughts bring negative things towards you. To me, that’s a lot of what anxiety is. You tell yourself that you can’t do something or you too scared to get started. Don’t be lazy. Take control of your thoughts. If you pay attention, you can feel if a thought is overall negative or positive. All it takes is you to turn those thoughts into positive things that keep you happy. Why sit around and mentally bitch? Does it really get you anywhere? All it gets you is behind schedule and bummed out. Confront the negative thoughts with positive ones, focus on your successes (big and small) and keep on truckin’. Everybody wants to be someone important, someone that people remember. Just realize that you should be remembered for being a good person, not a badass logo designer.

I know this was all a rant but Cesar told me to blog more. So there Cesar. I did it! Now all of you go get some water, grab a book and smile the entire time you do it. Be prepared for a rush of creative energy.