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If you’ve ever found yourself waking up feeling on-edge, super anxious, worrying about something you might have said or done after a night out of fun and drinking, rest assured - you're not alone. 'Hangxiety' is a common experience shared by many women, so I want to help you understand the cause better to so you can manage through it and breathe easier this holiday season! Our Body + AlcoholThe science behind 'hangxiety' is rooted in the intricate workings of our brains when alcohol is consumed:
If you’re interested in learning about how alcohol + sleep affect anxiety I cover this topic in detail in my new book “Becoming Fearless” – The Complete Guide to Anxiety Relief along with 12+ anxiety relief tools! Women vs Men’s 'Hangxiety'Women tend to metabolise alcohol differently to men due to differences in body composition and our enzyme levels. This can result in a quicker rise in blood alcohol concentration while drinking and intensify both the initial “calming effects” and subsequent “glutamine rebound” = anxiety. Women who are already prone to anxiety are more susceptible to experiencing intensified 'hangxiety' after drinking. Reason being - our body’s anxiety alarm system is super in tune with hormone fluctuations and likely in a pattern of triggering to negative or worried thoughts! How to Cope with Post-Drinking Anxiety![]() The duration of the ‘hangxiety’ feeling will vary person to person, typically peaking the day after and lasting up to 24 hours or longer, depending on factors like how much alcohol you drank and physical/emotional/mental conditions (aka if you’re in a high stress period/already anxious mindset then look out - symptoms will be intensified!). Waking up with fragmented memories from the previous night can also contribute to post-drinking stress of course. Dealing with 'hangxiety' requires a high level of self-compassion. This is where you need to remind yourself -
Do something to distract and relax your mind, such as watching a favourite show or practicing mindfulness through meditation, aids in easing 'hangxiety.' And avoid consuming more alcohol or stimulant’s like coffee, which can just exacerbate anxiety. ‘Hangxiety’ PreventionIf you want to prevent 'hangxiety' it will involvessome moderation and mindful drinking and I also believe assessing where you’re at emotionally and mentally before you drink is key.
By understanding how the body works and the triggers, and implementing a few preventive measures and coping strategies, I hope 'hangxiety' won’t overshadow this year’s festive cheer for you!
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This one is for all the Overthinkers13/11/2023 Do you ever find your mind spinning about all the “what if’s” and the “unknowns” within a problem or situation and you just can’t seem to shut those damn thoughts off? Overthinking is something that happens to the best of us, and it’s a sure-fire trigger for anxiety. It’s kind of like there’s a dance party going on in your mind with all these thoughts on a wild and random playlist. You’re expecting “Sunday Chill” and get delivered “Hard Rock Hits of 1990”. YIKES! When things get too chaotic, we often forget that we are the DJ of the crazy party going on in our mind. We can take control of the playlist, even if the volume of the music feels a little loud and out of our control. We can dial it down. But how? This week, perhaps start by recognizing when you are overthinking and practice interrupting the pattern of thought. Instead of feeding the train of thoughts with MORE questions and scenarios on the overthinking train, try to disrupt the flow and change the tune. Here is a recent video I did for my overthinkers on Instagram which will help! Overthinking is very common in women who experience anxiety. In fact I’ve dedicated a whole chapter to understanding “why we overthink” in my new book, Becoming Fearless launching next Tuesday Nov 21. Here is a sneak peak of some things I share that can help to quiet down the internal noise:
It takes practice, but honestly from experience there is no amount of rehashing a problem that will help find a resolution in THAT moment if you’re anxious. When our thoughts are like a loud party, then we don’t have space to listen to our inner voice of intuition who is trying to give us advice! Shift focus and come back to it at another time. This is your reminder:Sometimes we have to let go of the problem before we can figure it out. The same thinking that got us into the problem, won't always get us out of it! Ps. You can learn more about Becoming Fearless here and jump on the waitlist to get a copy. It's packed full of actionable tips and tools to help you relieve anxiety, naturally!
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Worrying is Pointless6/11/2023 A simple idea to help you stop worrying.I meet many women who are stuck in what we call in coaching “worry loops”. Where the mind becomes fixated on all the negative what IF’s within a situation. And one worry thought leads to another and another! Once you’re in a worry loop it can be hard to take yourself off the worry train. But here are 4 reasons why I believe worrying is pointless: 1. Worrying doesn’t change the outcome If you think about it, have you ever altered the course of an event by spending all that energy worrying? Probably not. So why do we waste so much precious energy on it? 2. It robs you of the present moment Life’s most beautiful moments are happening right now. When you worry you miss out on “being present” and all the fun, connection and beauty that’s around you. 3. Worrying zaps your confidence and inner peace It’s like carrying a massive problem sack with you everywhere you go. It holds you back and keeps you from showing up as your best self. 4. Worrying is a MASSIVE trigger for ANXIETY! What IF’s and worst-case scenarios type thoughts are a red flag for the mind to trigger anxiety alarm in the body and send out the troops to fight the “perceived danger”. Insert >> sleepless nights, mental and physical exhaustion, MORE racing thoughts and all those annoying anxiety symptoms. It's super important for me to share that you can stop the worry train.It's possible, perhaps this week if worry is at the forefront of your mind you can start here:
Step 1 - Become aware of when your mind is drifting to worry. Step 2 - Take a breath and remind yourself that this train of thought is essentially pointless, you cannot control all the “what IF’s” and this thinking will lead to anxiety. Step 3 - Let it go, not every detail has to be decided today. Practice bringing your mind back to the present moment. It's crucial to remember that worrying drains your precious energy and robs you of the beauty of the present moment! What's more important? By recognizing the pointlessness of worrying, you can be more proactive about your anxiety. Janel Briggs Thrive Mindset Coaching ps. Look out for a special announcement from me tomorrow 07-11-23! Jump on my EMAIL LIST and be the first to know! Something new is coming 😊 (hint: to help you off the worry train!).
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Wow - it's a big Mindset Monday for me. Celebrating 5 years of Thrive Mindset Coaching! It blows my mind that I have been helping women to transform their mindset and their lives (busting fear and anxiety) for five whole years. This has by far been the most rewarding career I’ve ever had. But it wasn’t something I planned, I literally fell into it after my own life was transformed by an NLP trained mindset coach. 5 years ago, I met a woman who breathed life into me. She showed me I was deserving and worthy of so much more than I was showing up for in my life. She saw a light in me that I didn’t even know existed. My light had been dimmed to dark for so long from “just surviving”. All it took was for 1 person to say “I believe in you, your story can help people” for me to wake up. People (friends and family) probably thought I was crazy; in the 3 years prior to launching Thrive Mindset Coaching, I had quit my lucrative 15-year corporate career and built 3 online businesses that were all flailing... along with my anxiety and mental health. Plus, back then no one even understood what a mindset coach was or did! You want to be what… um ok are you sure?? Early days finding my feet on Instagram Linkedin and You Tube. But, no matter what people thought or said I couldn’t shake the burning desire in me to help support people. To pay forward the gifts of knowledge, belief and hope I had been given. That is why this milestone feels so incredible. As a person who often gave up when conditions weren’t perfect or if the voice of my inner critic told me I was going to fail. “Who are you to do this work? You’re no expert! Your life isn’t perfect.” I NEVER gave up! 5 Valuable Lessons Learned in 5 Years of Coaching:
To my incredible coaching clients, every course participant, journal customer, workshop attendee and my tribe over on Instagram, Linkedin and Facebook - thank you for every video you watched, post or blog you've read! Your presence means the world to me. Cheers to the next 5! Janel Briggs. ![]() About the Author: Janel Briggs is a NLP and Timeline Therapy Practitioner on a mission to support women across Australia and Singapore in overcoming their professional anxieties, imposter syndrome, fears and insecurities to build unwavering confidence and self-belief. Mindset Coaching is about learning how to become fearless and level up your life and career! Connect with Janel on social media via Linkedin or Instagram. Subscribe to my weekly Monday Mindset Magic email and be the first to know about this new product for anxiety relief launching soon!
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Phew... well, this past week has been A LOT to process, hasn't it? I've felt it too, the sense of confusion, helplessness, and overwhelming emotions from witnessing a world and people in crisis. Sick to my stomach reading and listening to the news, hearing the division and clash of words, opinions, and beliefs all over social media on topics that are far away and closer to home. As we’ve seen for hundreds and thousands of years, division brings destruction. Sadly, I have no solution or answers for you. But I do know that we’ll never be able to right the wrongs of the past with the same thinking that got us here. Often in times like these, when the world-fear and anxiety storm rages I get a little quieter. I go inward to reflect, process my emotions, pray for humanity and peace, and I count my blessings. I also put in place a few essential practices that assist my mindset:
If you're struggling with feelings of hopelessness and sadness from the weight of division in our world I recorded a special meditation for your this week. It's based on an ancient practice that cultivates goodwill and universal friendliness towards oneself and others. After I have done all I can to tackle my emotions and educate myself on a tough problem, this recording helps me to re-focus my mind and nurture my spirit. Then I'll perhaps take a walk, listen to music, meet a friend for a chat, eat something nutritious, read a good book, go for a bike ride or take a nap. These are all constructive ways to support my mindset to fill time that might otherwise have been wasted on worry about all the uncontrollable's in our world today. Take care, JB
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Tapping Into the Magic Within You9/10/2023 In my line of work it's common for me to see women grappling with self-doubt. Sadly, this lack in belief can be the major cause of our stress, anxiety, burnout and even depression. We seem to live in a world where women feel there is a persona or invisible achievement list they have to live up to in order to be "worthy" or "valued". Watching the Barbie movie recently, this became even more clear to me. (Have you seen it? What did you think of it?) The gremlin thoughts in our mind often make us feel that if we don't look like THIS, or have THAT, or achieve THIS, then we're failing, "not good enough" or will "never be good enough". It's a pressure that is hard to comprehend and manage. And, if we've experienced knock backs at any stage of our life or career, the journey to quiet the gremlins and get back to self-confidence can be super challenging. But I am here to remind you that this journey back to your true self, can also be incredibly rewarding. Within each and every one of us, there exists a reservoir of magic waiting to be tapped into. Special qualities, characteristics, talents, and brilliance that once recognised helps to light up the world in small or big ways. Learning how to unlock our magic is how we overcome self-doubt. Your magic sparkles from your qualities, strengths, values and known accomplishments. If you're on this journey now - I have created a visual thought starter for you. Take a blank piece of paper, grab a pen, and divide your page into four. Ask yourself each of these questions, and fill in a few dot points for each box. Confidence blooms from deeply knowing and understanding yourself, embracing your unique qualities, and acknowledging your accomplishments. These elements will help you to go onto look at pursuing your passions. Mindset Coaching: The Key to Unleashing More of Your MagicMindset coaching is a powerful tool that empowers women to shift their perspective, challenge their limiting beliefs, and develop the confidence to pursue their goals. Here's how THRIVE mindset coaching can further help you tap into the magic within YOU: 1) Identifying Limiting Beliefs
2) Cultivating Self-Awareness
3) Shifting Negative Self-Talk
4) Setting Empowering Goals
5) Building Resilience
Your inner magic is wating to shine. Remember, you are capable and worthy of achieving greatness! Honour your uniqueness, own your story, and believe in your capabilities. THIS level of radical self-acceptance is where the magic sparkles within you!![]() About the Author: Janel Briggs is a NLP and Timeline Therapy Practitioner on a mission to support women across Australia and Singapore in overcoming their professional anxieties, imposter syndrome, fears and insecurities to build unwavering confidence and self-belief. Mindset Coaching is about learning how to become fearless and level up your life and career! Connect with Janel on social media via Linkedin or Instagram.
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Have you ever found yourself wishing that someone in your life would change, thinking it would make everything so much better? Many women experience stress, mental and emotional strain as a direct result of the other people's behaviours and actions. "IF ONLY he/she would do THIS, then everything would be OK!"
If they would just make "this change" then our life would greatly improve, and I could stop worrying. I know, how amazing would it be if the people we cared about would do what we want them to all the time!! But here's the sad truth: You can't force anyone to change.No matter how much you want it for them or love them, what you say or do for them... only they can DECIDE to make changes in their life. You cannot control their choices or outcomes. And all that pushing will ultimately cause you more resentment, heartache, stress and pain. Which I know is a super hard to hear. I've been there too. I have multiple people in my life today I would LOVE to see change their ways - but a decade of trying to change them broke me and I had to learn to let it go. I've also seen this frustration in a few of my past coaching clients' relationships. Where women who have journeyed on the path of self-discovery for themsleves now want the same for their partner, sibling, child, or partent. However, in attempting to push them to "see the light" and change their habits and behaviours, they've ended up causing themselves angst. This is what I can share: You can't change them, but you can be the inspiration for their change. Perhaps even a catalyst, by showing them what is possible. The decision for someone to change their life has to be their own, otherwise the transormation may be fleeting or won't stick long term. If you can't walk the path for them, what can you do? Continue to focus on your own personal growth and well-being. Be the light in their life. From my experience it takes patience, but in time you may notice small shifts and improvements both in your life and theirs. Here are 5 actions you can take:
True power is found in changing ourselves and inspiring the change we wish to see in others. ![]() About the Author: Janel Briggs is a NLP and Timeline Therapy Practitioner on a mission to support women across Australia and Singapore in overcoming their professional anxieties, imposter syndrome, fears and insecurities to build unwavering confidence and self-belief. Mindset Coaching is about learning how to become fearless and level up your life and career! Connect with Janel on social media via Linkedin or Instagram.
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Ever noticed how one little change can set off a chain reaction that shakes up your whole day? Seriously, it's crazy how something as small as a negative thought, or a random comment from someone's grumpy mood can turn a great start, into a bad day. Think about it - ever had one of those mornings where you woke up on the wrong side of the bed? >> Maybe you spilled your coffee, missed your bus, or your child had a stage 5 meltdown over his corn flakes (true story! lol). And then, BAM! That bad mood tags along like a dark cloud, messing with your interactions and choices all day long. It's like that one negative morning experience defines ALL the experiences of your day. And your thoughts then decide to throw a party and invite all your complaining friends in to gripe all day. On the flip side have you also noticed how one tiny 'thank you' or a kind compliment can turn things around and give your mood a 180-degree boost. It's like a burst of sunshine breaking through the clouds. Suddenly, you're smiling, your steps feel lighter, and you're ready to take on the world! But here's the cool part. We do have a choice; you can choose to react and response, OR NOT.We often feel like we have NO CONTROL over they day, our mood or emotions. So we go on reacting and responding to everyone and everything around us. Imagine what could happen if we stopped giving the negative experience, thought or comment energy?? Here's a few examples of how to flip the script in your mind and rewrite the day: -> Your spill your coffee - old thought: "I am such and idiot, I don't have time for this, this is going to ruin my day!" (self-criticism) New thought: "Woops, well that is annoying - I'll go change now." (compassion) You encounter someone who is rude/grumpy - old thought: "What a jerk, how dare they speak to me like that, why did they have to X - I'm so mad!" (transferred anger) New thought: "Wow, they must be having a rough day" (deflect the emotion) Missed the bus - old thought: "Oh great, now I'm late and today is going to hell." (frustration) New thought: "That's ok, I'll just have to get the next one - nothing else I can do." (acceptance) And, for the women who just feel like they wake up on the "wrong side of the bed" every day ...Learn to Thrive ... my morning journal is the ONLY answer for that!Here's why: Every day you have the opportunity to rewrite your day, by following the prompts to set an intention for your day. You begin your day with his simple intention affirmation: "Today I will .... "
By creating an intention for your day you flip the script and become the writer, instead of the audience. I know it seems TOO SIMPLE to be true, but it works. Try it, and see? Ask yourself this: What is my intention for this week? What quality do I want to bring into today?
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Self-Care Doesn't Have to Be Expensive21/8/2023 In the midst of today's economic challenges, it's understandable that when things get tough, taking care of ourselves often slips to the VERY bottom of the priority list. Everyone, and everything else comes first, I get it. But I want to remind you of two important things - when life/financial/relationship/work stress is high:
Of course, day-spa's and weekend retreats, and nights out with the girls are amazing! But in truth, THE BEST self-care looks like: Setting strong & healthy boundaries around your energy and time! Boundaries are literally the decision you make to put yourself first, even when life is crazy. It's where I say: "This is the energy I will allow in/or the energy output I have capacity for right now" And if you have a tendency to be a people pleaser, have a hyper focus on external validation, or someone who NEVER puts themselves first... I've got a little "Boundaries Bingo Card" ready for you! Snapshot that bingo card and this week I would love to inspire you to choose one bubble. Make that one non-expensive thing your self-care focus for this week. And perhaps we need to take a page out of the Baby Boomer's book on the ART OF SAYING NO!Image & research credit: Thriving Centre of Psychology These stats are crazy right? 65% of women have trouble saying No! Why is it so hard to set boundaries and just say no? As the research above states it comes down to a feeling of GUILT + OBLIGATION. It's high time to flip the switch on that. "If you’re feeling boxed into doing things you don’t want to do, don’t continue the cycle. Now more than ever is the time to prioritize your mental health and your happiness. At the end of the day, that’s what is most important!" - Thriving Centre of Psychology Recently coming off a 7 week summer school break for my son here in Singapore (with a lack of affordable school holiday programs) I was chatting to another Mum about how we've coped. She said "Wow, you've got strong boundaries!" I said yes absolutely. I've hit burnout enough times(!) to learn what I need to operate at my best, and now I honour that. These are some of the self-care habits that I stick to. Self-Care habits (without the price expensive tag):
Remember, you're worth every effort you invest in yourself. Life is always going to be busy, and I know you probably don't have the time, energy, or resources right now for self-care. But if you don't put yourself on the priority list now... who else will? Any comments or questions, please reach out. ![]() About the Author: Janel Briggs is a NLP and Timeline Therapy Practitioner on a mission to support women across Australia and Singapore in healing their professional anxieties, insecurities and imposter syndrome to build unwavering confidence and self-belief. The goal is to level up your life and career by learning how to to live fearless and anxiety free! Connect with Janel on social media via Linkedin or Instagram.
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Busy Isn't Always Better14/8/2023 Have you inadvertently fallen into the trap of becoming addicted to that constant state of being busy? We've grown accustomed to this continual rush, over-committed on the move. And I get it, there is always so much to do. Work, home, family, life. We live in an "on demand" society, where everything is urgent, and everyone expects everything to be done yesterday. Now, I'm not saying being busy is inherently bad. We definitely have learned how to multi-task and get sh*t done! But let's be real - when we are sucked into this whirlwind of non-stop activity, we often disregard own own well-being and miss out on the subtle signals our own bodies are trying to send us. Research shows that a third of Australian’s are under “chronic time stress”.
Higher levels of time stress are correlated with worse mental health, lower self-rated health, less exercise and lower life satisfaction. (sourced: https://pursuit.unimelb.edu.au/articles/a-third-of-australians-under-chronic-time-stress) And have you ever noticed that after a crazy stretch of hectic months, the moment you finally give yourself a break, take a vacation or even just a single day off - you end up falling sick? Here's why:
So, my message is this: Busy isn't always better. Could "busy" taking you away from something you don't want to deal with? What is your constant "need to be busy" behaviour telling you? Take a moment to reflect today:
And let's stop wearing "busy" like a badge of honour and telling each other how busy we are. I would much rather hear about how quiet, content and happy you've been! The truth is, when your life is jam packed – you’ll be less likely to have time to be present from the multi-tasking and external noise. And being present is the place where feel MORE happiness, joy and contentment. What’s more important? Janel Briggs If you need support to help you release stress and calm your mind check out my free guided meditation here for relaxation. ![]() About the Author: Janel Briggs is a NLP and Timeline Therapy Practitioner on a mission to support women across Australia and Singapore in healing their professional anxieties, insecurities and imposter syndrome to build unwavering confidence and self-belief. The goal is to level up your life and career by learning how to to live fearless and anxiety free! Connect with Janel on social media via Linkedin or Instagram. |