Accomplishments in Spite of Anxiety: Why Showing Up Matters Most.

By Adrienne Barker, MAS

Ever have one of those days when just the thought of leaving your safe, cozy corner at home feels like you’re prepping for a spacewalk on Mars? Hi, I’m Adrienne—and trust me, I get it. Here’s the behind-the-scenes secret: so many of us are powering through our days—work, family, business-building, you name it—while juggling anxiety like it’s just another line on our to-do list.

This reality really hit home for me in a recent conversation with my daughter. We laughed (and maybe cried a little) as we listed all the things we do every day… and realized how many of them we only accomplish by gently shoving our anxiety into the backseat. If anxiety had its way, we’d both be at home with DoorDash and Netflix, never missing an episode or a snack—but also missing out on life, business wins, and the little joys that come from pushing through.

The Real Accomplishment: Doing Things Because of Anxiety

Let’s be honest: in business, anxiety is a master of disguise. It shows up as:

• That mini heart attack before you speak up in a meeting.

• The endless draft–edit–delete–rewrite cycle of sending an important email.

• Networking event nerves (where you’re suddenly an expert at hiding by the snack table).

• Second-guessing every decision like you’re auditioning for “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?”—final answer pending.

And yet—here we are. Building businesses, serving clients, showing up for our teams, and making things happen. If that’s not the definition of grit, I don’t know what is!

Our Secret Daily Habits for Outwitting Anxiety

Here’s the real-life playbook from me and my daughter (two anxiety-overachievers who still manage to get stuff done):

✔️ We make lists—and forgive ourselves for not finishing them.
(Pro tip: Sometimes the list is just “1. Breathe. 2. Repeat.” And that counts!)

✔️ We set tiny goals.
Some days, “open laptop” is worthy of a medal. I say, celebrate it!

✔️ We find accountability buddies.
Telling someone you plan to do something adds a little healthy pressure (and sometimes a lot of laughs when you both procrastinate together).

✔️ We embrace breathing exercises.
Yes, box breathing sounds like a yoga cliché, but hey, if it helps you survive a Zoom call, I’m in.

✔️ We give ourselves little rewards.
Finished that tough task? Go on—treat yourself. (No judgment if your “treat” is a mid-afternoon nap. You earned it.)

✔️ We allow anxious days.
You’re not a robot, and you don’t have to win “Employee of the Year” every single day. If today’s victory is just showing up, that’s enough.

The Professional Takeaway

Let’s normalize this: behind every confident LinkedIn profile and “crushing it” Instagram post is someone who’s probably overcome at least three rounds of “what if?” anxiety before breakfast. What matters most isn’t the absence of anxiety—it’s the courage to show up, try, and accomplish anyway.

So next time you think you’re the only one wrestling with nerves, remember: most of us are right there with you. We’re just doing it in good shoes and with a decent Wi-Fi signal.

Question for You:

What’s one thing you do every day to keep anxiety from stealing your spotlight? Share your tip—let’s make anxiety work for us for once!

If you made it to the end of this article, treat yourself to something nice. If you didn’t, just know I’m rooting for you anyway!