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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
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Calm the F*ck Down summary
Sasha O'Hara
How to Stop Freaking Out and Get On With Your Life
14 mins
Brief summary
Calm the F*ck Down by Sasha O'Hara is a hilarious adult coloring book filled with intricate designs and irreverent quotes. It's the perfect way to de-stress and unleash your creativity.
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Calm the F*ck Down
Summary of 4 key ideas
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Key idea 1 of 4
When life gives you lemons…
Life has an uncanny way of throwing lemons. And when it does, our instinct is often to freak the fuck out. But here’s the funny thing: freaking out doesn’t always look the same. People process setbacks differently – heck, even the same person can respond differently on any given day.
Before we get to the nitty-gritty of dealing with the stress or shitstorm we’re currently experiencing, it can help to familiarize ourselves with the faces freakouts commonly wear so we can better handle the steps that follow. Fortunately for us, freakouts usually come wearing one of only four faces.
First, there’s anxiety – that buzzing, restless voice in your head spinning out endless “what ifs” like a runaway carousel. When anxiety has you tangled up, an effective way of running a quick detangle is to focus on something else. Anything else. Perhaps today’s the day you discover what a wild array of sock choices your colleagues sport.
Then there’s sadness – the heavy, draining weight that makes everything feel harder. The short-term solution here isn’t complicated – just try a spot of self-care. Treat yourself the way you’d treat a close friend who’s feeling low. That might mean a nap, a little chocolate, a long bath, or replaying a YouTube video that makes you guffaw. You do you.
The third possible face a freakout can wear is anger – the fiery rush that can blow small problems into big ones in no time. When you feel yourself heating up, why not take a hot minute to imagine where future-you winds up after acting on their Hulk-like rage? The image of their broken wrist or instant unemployment can often be enough to cool your jets.
Finally, freakouts can manifest through avoidance – the sneaky urge to pretend the problem isn’t there, hoping it will magically disappear. But we all know deep down that ignoring things only makes them worse. The antidote? Make one tiny move. Reply to that text, book that appointment, or simply get showered and dressed for the day ahead.
No, none of these actions alone are sufficient to deal with the stress or shitstorm life has delivered you today – don’t worry, we’ll be rolling up our sleeves in the following sections. But awareness of the different ways your freakout may be manifesting can be empowering, and a band-aid fix is sometimes what the doctor calls for.
With a little self-awareness and a few smart strategies, you can keep your cool, regain your balance, and maybe even turn those lemons life keeps handing you into a surprisingly refreshing beverage. You’ll likely need the sugar hit.
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What is Calm the F*ck Down about?
Calm the F*ck Down (2018) is a humorous guide to managing anxiety and overthinking in everyday life. It offers practical strategies for distinguishing between what you can and can’t control, helping you take action where possible and let go of the rest. By breaking down common stress responses, it empowers readers to stop freaking out and start dealing with life more effectively.
Calm the F*ck Down Review
Calm the F*ck Down (2018) by Sasha O'Hara is a humorous adult coloring book that tackles stress and anxiety. Here's why this book is definitely worth checking out:
- Offers irreverent humor and playful activities that make confronting stress more approachable and entertaining for readers.
- Features unconventional coloring pages that encourage creativity and serve as a therapeutic outlet for managing everyday stressors.
- Combines witty sayings and quirky illustrations to deliver a refreshingly candid approach to self-care, making it far from a dull read.
Who should read Calm the F*ck Down?
- Overthinkers struggling with ambient anxiety
- Perfectionists needing to release control
- Anyone currently overwhelmed by a shitstorm
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Calm the F*ck Down FAQs
What is the main message of Calm the F*ck Down?
The main message of Calm the F*ck Down is embracing humor and practical strategies to manage stress and anxiety.
How long does it take to read Calm the F*ck Down?
Reading Calm the F*ck Down takes a few hours. The Blinkist summary can be read in about 15 minutes.
Is Calm the F*ck Down a good book? Is it worth reading?
Calm the F*ck Down is worth reading for its humorous yet effective stress management techniques.
Who is the author of Calm the F*ck Down?
The author of Calm the F*ck Down is Sasha O'Hara.
What to read after Calm the F*ck Down?
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