Welcome to this week's episode of the Modern Mentor podcast, formerly the Get It Done

Guy. I'm your host, Rachel Cook, and today I'll be sharing advice on how to stay productive

at work while managing anxiety.

How many fingers would you need to count the number of times the new normal has worked its way into a conversation?

I'm up to about 14 hands at my last count.

The new normal feels heavy.

It's as if each of us is carrying the weight of the world on our shoulders. And while each experience of this moment is unique, many of us are struggling to balance

our ability to stay engaged and productive with our work while managing a pervasive sense of

anxiety, myself included.

My days of the new normal are filled with client calls, supporting my kids through virtual

school, following the news, fretting, calling friends and family, more news, more fretting,

more clients, baking cookies, news, clients, and cookies.

The anxiety is warranted. Times truly are scary and require our vigilance. We can't put our heads

in the sand. But how do we also find ways to stay focused on our jobs and keep performing at work?

I asked my friend Amy Dombach, Ph.D. and assistant professionals, to stay focused on our jobs and keep performing at work.

I asked my friend Amy Dombach, PhD and assistant professor of psychology at Felician University for advice.

Our conversation gave me comfort and a path forward.

Today, I'd like to share some of her advice with you.

First, state your fear out loud. What's happening right now

isn't the boogeyman. It's not made up monsters under your bed. What you fear is real and valid.

So start by letting it in. Say it out loud. I'm anxious right now, and I'm doing the best I can. By naming our

fear, we invite the rational part of our brains to engage with it. As Amy said, we, Americans,

...