Doom Scrolling Is Making You Even More Anxious — How To Curb Your Bad Habit

In this segment, Paige Wiese, founder & CEO of Tree Ring Digital in Denver, CO, walks us through some of the ways she encourages clients to double down on marketing when business is slow. Paige built her business as a solopreneur graphic designer to a team of 15, helping clients with SEO, online ads, and social media management. Here’s her Take 5, plus more tips for surviving the business lulls below!

What's a recent small win for you and your business?

Paige: A recent small win has been just seeing business pick up again. I am seeing businesses start to engage with their marketing efforts and really trying to get to the root of why their website might be underperforming. We look at what they can be doing to see their money actually go to a place that it should be going.

What's a big piece of advice that you give to your clients?

Paige: A lot of them want to back off anytime there's a little bit of scarcity. I really think that's the time to double down, whether it be your digital presence, your website, or just adjusting how you're spending your money. But instead of just saying, ‘Hey, we're going to stop [investing in marketing],’ ask ‘How do we double down in the correct way and make sure we're seeing measurable results out of it?’ I do it myself anytime business is a little slow. I think we have to either change or we need to be doubling down. A lot of clients come to us when the pipeline is already dry and money is tight and they’re hoping for a quick fix. Marketing, unfortunately, isn't a quick fix.

See more tips for surviving business lulls below!

What's an unexpected business challenge you’ve faced and how did you overcome it?

Paige: I think one of the bigger challenges that we've run into has been more on the employee side, some of the retention or the hiccups that come along the way and then just learning from them. So how can we be a better, stronger company coming out of this and how do we use it as a growing opportunity?

How has the Verizon Small Business program helped propel your business forward?

Paige: I learned about the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready program through the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC). It's a free resource that’s self-paced and very digestible. The variety of topics it covers is a large gamut for any size business. The Selling with Storytelling course, especially, was really valuable to me, just really getting your messaging out there. I laugh that I sometimes enjoy the marketing ones a little bit more just because it is a refresher or another take on how we do this.

Thanks Paige!

Here Are More B+C Tips For Surviving The Small Business Lulls

1. Refine Your Strategy
   • Review your business plan and goals. Are you on track? What can be improved?
   • Analyze customer feedback and sales data to spot trends and areas where you can grow.
2. Boost Your Marketing Efforts
   • Refresh your website or social media profiles. Verizon Small Business Digital Ready’s free Put Your Website to Work course will help you get started with best practices for building your business website.
   • Create engaging content through blogs, videos, and newsletters. Verizon’s free Creating Compelling Content course can help you create consistent, quality content for your target customers.
   • Offer promotions or limited-time discounts to attract new customers.
3. Invest in Learning
   • Take an online course related to your industry, like Verizon’s free Planning for the Unexpected course for building resiliency in your business.
   • Stay updated on industry trends and innovations.
   • Engage with customers too. Send personalized emails to loyal customers or clients. Ask for reviews!
4. Improve Your Processes
   • Streamline operations or explore new tools to increase your efficiency.
   • Organize your workspace and declutter your digital files.
5. Self-Care and Rest
   • Take advantage of the slower pace to recharge. A refreshed mindset is exactly what you need to bring forth fresh ideas!

1. You're Anxious About Going To The Office

If you find yourself waking up in the morning with a pit in your stomach and wishing you could avoid the day ahead, it's a sign that your mind is overwhelmed. Feeling anxious or dreading going to work can be normal from time to time, but if it's a consistent pattern, these emotions may be a result of burnout or mounting stress. It's essential to listen to your body, as pushing through and going to work anyway could lead to further exhaustion and even more anxiety.

2. You Feel Burnt Out

Burnout has the ability to creep up on us gradually. When stress is unmanaged, or breaks are neglected, these feelings can build up over time and cause us to feel deeply exhausted. People suffering from burnout can experience a multitude of symptoms, from lower energy levels and mental fogginess to physical and emotional depletion.

3. You're Having Trouble Focusing

When we're stressed, our minds can become clouded, and concentrating at work becomes an impossible task. Even the simplest responsibilities may take more mental effort than ever before, and in the wake of this overwhelming feeling, the likelihood that we'll make mistakes increases.

Not to mention, the effects of stress extend beyond just focus and can also interfere with memory and the ability to retain new information. You may suddenly realize you're struggling to learn new skills or recall important details.

4. You're Constantly Getting Sick

Chronic stress can seriously affect your physical health as well, and if you're frequently getting sick, you may need to take a day off. Research has shown that stress triggers an increase in suppressor T cells and catecholamine levels, both of which suppress the immune system. So, you're left more vulnerable to illnesses.

A mental health break from work can help you lower stress and, in turn, boost your immune system's ability to fight off things like colds or viruses.

5. You're Getting Agitated Easily

After exhaustion and stress take over, it can be tough to keep our emotions in check. So, even tiny annoyances might trigger agitation or anger.

If you've begun snapping at coworkers or losing your temper over things that wouldn't normally bother you, it's a sign that your mental health is suffering. Taking a personal day will be good for both your well-being and the maintenance of your professional relationships.

6. It's Difficult To Sleep

Whether you're frustrated, anxious, or stressed, all of these emotions can make it tough to sleep at night. And if you're tossing and turning, not getting enough rest to sustain you throughout the workday, stress levels will continue to rise.

This pattern can spiral into a vicious cycle: the more sleep you lose, the harder it becomes to think clearly, leading to more stress and even more lost shut-eye. Sometimes, taking a mental health day to catch up on some much-needed sleep can break the cycle.

7. Your Eating Habits Have Changed

Much like sleep, stress can also have a significant impact on our eating habits as well. Some people may lose their appetite and skip meals due to anxiety, while others turn to food for comfort.

Both of these coping mechanisms are unhealthy and signal that your mental health is struggling. If you realize that you've been binging or avoiding food in response to work-related pressure, it's time to take a break.

8. Your Work Performance Has Dipped

Next, a decline in your work quality, from missed deadlines to challenges staying organized, may suggest your stress levels have reached a point where they're affecting your job performance.

If we're overwhelmed and our mental capacity becomes overloaded, it's tougher to prioritize tasks effectively and operate with a clear head.

9. You Feel Disconnected From Those Around You

Another telltale indicator is feeling disconnected from coworkers, friends, and family. You might feel misunderstood or as if you're on a different page than everyone else. Plus, as stress continues mounting, you may feel isolated and alone, even when surrounded by people. Taking a break from your routine and reconnecting with loved ones in your personal life can help you reset and ground your mental health.

10. You're Bringing Your Work Home

Last but not least, does it seem like work is constantly following you home? Perhaps you're always thinking about tasks, worrying about emails, or mentally replaying conversations from the office in your head.

Being unable to disconnect from work after hours is dangerous, as it impedes your work-life balance and doesn't give you a chance to properly rest and recharge. Additionally, blurring the line between work and home life can strain your personal relationships since you're less present with loved ones. A mental health day will allow you to step away, clear your mind, and restore a necessary boundary.

1. Sullivan's Crossing

It's never a bad idea to dive back into the first two seasons of Sullivan's Crossing before it comes back! Set in Nova Scotia, Sullivan's Crossing tells the story of Maggie Sullivan, a successful neurosurgeon whose life experiences a sudden detour after some unexpected legal problems. So, she decides to take a break from Boston and return to her childhood home, a campground run by her estranged father, Sully, in Canada.

This heartfelt drama, adapted from author Robyn Carr's novels, stars Morgan Kohan, Chad Michael Murray, Tom Jackson, Andrea Menard, Scott Patterson, and more. It debuted in October 2023 and currently has two seasons to stream.

2. Ransom Canyon

Ransom Canyon is a contemporary Western that follows the entangled lives and romances of three ranching families in Texas Hill Country.

This new series, which was created, written, and executive produced by April Blair, is based on author Jodi Thomas' first book in a series of 10 different contemporary Western romance novels. Ransom Canyon stars Josh Duhamel, Minka Kelly, and Lizzy Greene, and the first season has 10 episodes.

3. Gilmore Girls

If you are a sucker for witty banter, quirky characters, and a captivating mother-daughter dynamic, look no further than Gilmore Girls. This seven-season show first debuted in 2000 and is set in a quaint Connecticut town known as Stars Hollow.

There, viewers get to watch Lorelai Gilmore, a single mom, raise her brainy daughter, Rory, and encounter all sorts of life complexities, like love, loss, and family strife. Gilmore Girls is a feel-good series starring Lauren Graham and Alexis Bledel that's comforting and totally binge-worthy.

4. Schitt's Creek

In 2015, the world was graced with the creation of the hilarious sitcom Schitt's Creek. This series follows the once filthy rich Rose family, who lose everything except for a rundown town they once bought as a joke.

So, businessman Johnny and his soap opera star wife, Moira, are forced to trade in their luxurious lifestyle for a motel room with their two kids, David and Alexis.

Featuring standout performances from Eugene Levy, Dan Levy, Catherine O'Hara, and Annie Murphy, this Emmy award-winning series will have you laughing and appreciating the little things.

5. Hart of Dixie

In Hart of Dixie, a New York Doctor named Zoe Hart, played by Rachel Bilson, finds herself in Alabama after unexpectedly inheriting half of a medical practice in the town of Bluebell. Zoe is initially met with some Southern sass as she tries to adapt to her new lifestyle, but eventually, she rediscovers herself in the unlikeliest of places.

Other cast members in Hart of Dixie, which came out in 2011 and has four seasons, include Wilson Bethel, Jamie King, Cress Williams, and Scott Porter.

6. Friday Night Lights

Few shows out there capture the spirit of small-town America quite like Friday Night Lights. This five-season series debuted in 2006 and is set in Dillon, Texas, where football is practically a religion.

Viewers follow along as Coach Eric Taylor, played by Kyle Chandler, leads a high school team on their quest to win while battling his own personal struggles at home. So, if you're a fan of football and some emotional themes, Friday Night Lights is perfect for your next binge session.

7. Firefly Lane

This series premiered in 2021 and, over two seasons, tells the personal story of two best friends named Tully and Kate. They first met as teens during the 1980s while living on Firefly Lane, and over the next three decades, their bond is tested by time, tragedy, and the overall complexities of growing up.

Katherine Heigl stars as the ambitious and fiery Tully, while Sarah Chalke grounds the story as Kate, who's quiet yet strong. Be prepared to shed some tears over this friendship drama, especially if you opt to watch Firefly Lane with your own bestie.

8. Sweet Magnolias

Last but not least is Sweet Magnolias, a 2020 romance series set in the Southern town of Serenity. It follows three lifelong friends as they support each other through the ups and downs of romance, family, and their careers.

Starring JoAnna Garcia Swisher, Brooke Elliot, and Heather Headley, Sweet Magnolias has four seasons you can start watching on Netflix today.