Go Lay Your Bricks: Staying Busy and Creating to Fight Anxiety and Depression

Go Lay Your Bricks: Staying Busy and Creating to Fight Anxiety and Depression Jason Wright, host of The Jason Wright Show and The Healthy CEO, shares that staying busy and creating something can help fight anxiety and depression. He references Winston Churchill’s lifelong struggle with depression, which Churchill called the “black dog,” and explains how Churchill coped by keeping occupied through painting and even laying bricks to engage his hands and mind. Wright relates this to his own experience of getting into funks and says creative projects like making a podcast or short video help him avoid doom scrolling, overeating from anxiety, and ruminating alone. While noting the value of being comfortable with boredom, he warns against prolonged negative rumination and encourages changing one’s state through movement or activity. He urges listeners to find their own “bricks” to lay and to seek help if needed. 00:00 Welcome and Shows 00:16 Stay Busy Create 00:37 Churchill Black Dog 01:28 My Creative Routine 02:06 Avoid Rumination 02:36 Change Your State 02:46 Lay Your Bricks 03:11 Creative Work Examples 03:44 Wrap Up and Help