[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2016\/04\/22\/how-to-stay-afloat-in-the-anxiety-society\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2016\/04\/22\/how-to-stay-afloat-in-the-anxiety-society\/","headline":"How to stay afloat in the anxiety society","name":"How to stay afloat in the anxiety society","description":"Preying on those of us who perhaps carry a little too much anxiety, some companies are embracing the dark side of marketing. ","datePublished":"2016-04-22","dateModified":"2021-12-27","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/contributor\/jamie-anderson\/#Person","name":"Jamie Anderson","url":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/contributor\/jamie-anderson\/","identifier":119,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/249ae804963762332acd20e644bfe865782bee3d64ee223d5dd6a28e548b47b5?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/249ae804963762332acd20e644bfe865782bee3d64ee223d5dd6a28e548b47b5?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"The Future of Commerce","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/logo-foc-schema-app-1.png","url":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/logo-foc-schema-app-1.png","width":172,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/thumbnail-33137d188e4f37e89e544ca2e98b3921-2.jpeg","url":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/thumbnail-33137d188e4f37e89e544ca2e98b3921-2.jpeg","height":370,"width":1200},"url":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2016\/04\/22\/how-to-stay-afloat-in-the-anxiety-society\/","about":[{"@type":"Thing","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/purpose\/","name":"Purpose","sameAs":["https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Purpose"]},{"@type":"Thing","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/purpose\/thought-leadership\/","name":"Thought Leadership","sameAs":["https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Thought_leader"]}],"wordCount":516,"keywords":["Purpose In Business"],"articleBody":"It\u2019s nearly spring and the \u2018New Year, New You\u2019 adverts are still going strong. Preying on those of us who perhaps put a little too much \u2018hog\u2019 into their Hogmanay, there are protein shakes to get you yoga-ready for the beach this summer (courtesy of our unapologetic friends at Protein World), apps that count your sleep cycles and pills to help you shed fat so you can wear \u2018that\u2019 dress (why is it never \u2018those\u2019 shorts?)And behind it all, fueling these campaigns, is a stressful cocktail of aspiration and angst. Aspiration because that\u2019s the lofty, often unrealistic dream they sell, and angst because \u2013 at least at this time of year \u2013 it seems to be the main catalyst for conversion.I\u2019m quite happy with who and how I am, but it\u2019s still a challenge to look at some of these campaigns and not feel either insulted or get a sliver of self-doubt \u2013 which must mean that they\u2019re doing their job.With such a bewildering amount of choices and pressures, the key to success is to be a little bit more Zen.      Rising food prices, growing anxiety: Retailers grapple with consequences                Rising food prices increases anxiety on many levels. What happens when people can\u2019t afford food? What if food takes up more of the average consumer\u2019s budget, leaving little for other items? How will all this impact grocery retailers, who we rely on so much today?      The anxiety society: How to step back and re-centerAnxiety is the byproduct of a media that is fixated on the perfect everything. The perfect trip, the perfect holiday, the perfect house… and the need to strive for unrealistic aspirational goals.It seems that we are living in an anxiety society. My folks weren\u2019t rushing back from work every night to ferry me between football and band practice, nor were my play dates scheduled with a precision that puts my work calendar to shame. This over-competitive way of living is a stress on parents and children alike \u2013 not to mention businesses and enterprises spreading themselves too thin instead of doing one thing well.Life is more complex now than it was. There\u2019s more choice, or at least awareness of possibilities, than ever before. The modern era\u2019s family has evolved to a point where it is nigh impossible to do it all and have it all. There\u2019s not enough hours in the day to tick all the boxes and enjoy quality time together.So what\u2019s the answer \u2013 do we take a step back or forge ahead?I\u2019d say the key is that you have to get a little bit Zen. Remember the story of the Fisherman and the Businessman. Take a deep breath (that always helps) and focus not on the things you can change, because ultimately you can change pretty much anything you put your mind to, but on the things you want or need to achieve. And enjoy the journey.  Giants don’t leave (carbon) footprints.Future-proof your business \u2013and the world.Get your free trial\u00a0HERE."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2016","item":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2016\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"04","item":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2016\/\/04\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"22","item":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2016\/\/04\/\/22\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"name":"How to stay afloat in the anxiety society","item":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2016\/04\/22\/how-to-stay-afloat-in-the-anxiety-society\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]