Personifying anxiety can help you separate from anxious thoughts, reduce shame, and build self-compassion. Learn how to name and relate to anxiety in a healthier way.

Anxiety doesn’t always look like panic. Sometimes it looks like over-preparing, overthinking, or constantly trying to stay one step ahead of what might go wrong—especially when you’re high-functioning and used to carrying a lot. Recently, I found myself preparing for a winter storm that never really arrived. Candles, flashlights, a generator—layers upon layers of “just in case.” What I eventually realized was that my preparation wasn’t really about the weather. It was about uncertainty.

The holiday rush is upon us-here's some quick tips for picking your highest priorities, and feeling ok about saying "no" to the rest.