Were you up last night, worrying about an upcoming assignment, a test, money, your health, the health of someone close to you, a job, or lack of one, or something else?
Are you having trouble focusing on something, because you are worried about something else?
Do you spend so much time worrying about something that you never get important things done?
How much time are you wasting by not being able to do anything to accomplish any meaningful goals?
This post includes powerful tips related to worrying less. It also includes 3 actionable steps you can take right away. Worry is a waste of your time; you will find life a LOT easier if you can limit how much you worry.
Do you think you worry too much? You probably do. Most of us worry. I know I do. Many people worry more than they take action to solve the problem. What can you do to solve the problem? If you cannot solve it, then why worry about it? You might worry about COVID, but unless you have a solution, what will you accomplish by worrying about it?
I would suggest you take action on those things you CAN change and worry less about those things you CANNOT change.
Someone once said that if you waste too much time worrying about something, you are just living through it twice.
Glenn Turner also seems to be the person who said that “Worrying is like being in a rocking chair; it gives you something to do, but it gets you nowhere.”
Worry is something that we all do now and then, but if you find yourself in a constant state of concern, you might want to try and address it. Too much worrying usually means not enough living. If you are ready to worry less and live more, follow the steps below.
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Let Go of Perfection
Research has shown that people who worry too much tend to be perfectionists. This correlation makes sense because these people naturally worry about everything being perfect.
If this sounds like you, consider giving up on perfection. If that is hard for you, think about the fact that perfectionism may be a variation of procrastination.
You think you are working on something, but you never finalize it. If procrastination is defined by Webster’s dictionary as “to put off intentionally and habitually“aren’t you procrastinating by trying to make something perfect?
Besides, what is the point of being perfect? Will anyone notice? Will anyone actually care? What is it that you are trying to prove? To whom? Will anyone actually care that what you do is perfect? Is this even reasonable?
Do people really like others who are perfect? Why would you want to be a friend to someone who does no wrong?
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Take Action
One of the best ways to deal with a bothersome worry is to take action on it. You don’t even have to accomplish anything too overwhelming.
Taking one simple step towards dealing with your worry will instantly help you feel better. Taking some valid action tends to help people realize they are doing something.
You are taking action now by searching for some answers. If you are reading this, I thank you for reading my words. I hope they are useful to you.
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Write Your Worries Down
One of the most insidious things about worry is that it can burrow itself deep inside of you, making it near impossible to shake. A great way to deal with that is to force your worries out by writing them down.
A daily journal is a wonderful way to help with worry. Once you have your worries in writing, you can review them over time. I would not be surprised if you began to realize that what worries you on Day 1 seems to be irrelevant to you by Day #20.
If you write down your worry, you can revisit it and also create a plan to solve the problem. Simply worrying gets you nowhere.
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Say “No” More Often
Another one of the biggest worries people have is worrying about how they will accomplish everything they want or need to. One way to address this is by learning to set healthy boundaries. “No” isn’t a bad word, and if someone is infringing on your time or energy, feel free to use it.
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Schedule Some Worry Time
Trying to eliminate worry can be tough. Instead of removing it, schedule a small window of time each day for it. The idea here is you still get to express your worry, but it won’t take over the rest of your day.
Side view of serene woman sitting on a sandy beach against blue sky outdoors
- Accept the Unpredictability of Life
This step is easier said than done, but it’s an important step to help reduce your worries. The reality is that life is often unpredictable. We can waste our time worrying about it, or we can accept it and try to live in the moment. Which sounds more enjoyable to you?
- Find Something Else to Do
If you find yourself stuck in a vortex of worry, the best thing to do is …anything else. If you find yourself spiraling, try doing something else to keep your mind occupied.
A great tactic is to do some exercise. It’s not only a healthy choice; it releases endorphins that will naturally calm you.
- Embrace the Power of Meditation
Meditation has a host of powerful benefits, and reducing worry is one of them. Meditation is something anyone can do, and even a small investment of time each morning is enough to help. This does not mean you have to sit on the floor, crossed-legged, and chant odd syllables.
Meditation, for me, simply means finding some time to be quiet and calm your thoughts. You can do this in a chair or even while you are in your car in the car circle, waiting to pick up your child from school.
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Talk to Someone
A worry shared is a worry halved. When you share your worries, you open yourself up to timely advice and help. Reach out to a loved one, and he or she will surely give you the time to vent. Alternatively, if your worry is becoming an all-encompassing problem, please reach out to a trained professional for help.
Do something!
Doing something is much better than doing nothing an worrying about it. When you do something, you can at least be grateful that you accomplished something! Here are some steps you can take to help you get started doing.
ACTIONABLE STEPS
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Make a list of your current worries. You don’t have to list every little concern, but if you have any recurring or constant worries, list them. |
Make a note of every worry you can’t control. It would help if you made an effort to accept the unpredictability of these events and let them go. After all, it isn’t within your control anyway. |
Look at the remaining worries. Figure out one step you can take to address each worry. Make it a simple step you could accomplish in less than an hour. Start taking these actions as soon as possible. |
If you are still reading, I want you to know I am grateful for that. I appreciate your reading my words and I hope you find them helpful. I hope you find another post of mine helpful as well. Thank you for reading.
Do you procrastinate? Check out my post on the myths and common causes of procrastination.
Do you also have a bit of a problem with time management? I know a lot of people do, and I would bet you may find this to be a problem at least sometimes.
Your ability to manage your time may be a part of why you worry about other issues.
Check out some of my other blogs on time management. https://olderstudentscanlearnnewskills.com/value-your-time/
or https://olderstudentscanlearnnewskills.com/feeling-overwhelmed/
There are a few other posts, but these might get you thinking about how you use your time now. That is a good start.
Have you ever lost points on an assignment because you forgot to do something? My assignment checklist can help you remember the details. Check it out! It is FREE!!!!
If you have any questions or comments, please leave me a note.
Valerie
updated 11 July 2022