Worrying is such a futile exercise and yet we continue to do it, at each and every opportunity. Instead of focusing on ‘why’ we do it, because we are living in a society whereby we are conditioned to want bigger and better, I’d like you to focus on ways to stop the worrying. Here are the top 5 ways that I help myself to alleviate the worry in my life:
1. Write your worries down and place them in a ‘worry envelope’.
Set aside a daily or weekly designated “worry time”. During this time read every worry and allow this time to worry, and then park it at the end of that designated time. This works wonders and is a great psychological tool used by many life coaches (like myself) and counsellors to help those with anxiety. I have personally used it when I was anxious many years ago and it worked alongside my other ‘top tips’.
2. Be Mindful and make time for meditation
Practice Mindfulness at any given opportunity. If you are not sure how to do this or to meditate, check out
3. Don’t be so hard on yourself – cut yourself some slack.
Accept the worry and then move on. Its all too easy to wind yourself up even more, and berate yourself for worrying. Be kind to yourself when you notice your worrying has kicked in and try to revert to my top tip number 2 when this happens.
4. Accept Uncertainty
Chronic worrying leads to trying to predict the future. You cannot predict it, or be certain of it, so its time to accept ‘uncertainty’. STOP worrying about the future. I know its hard when you get that nagging, scary feeling deep down inside you that you just don’t know what is going to happen next. When this happens, take a deep breath in and try to be ‘mindful’ of what is going on around you. Ignore your minds incessant conversation with you about worrying and just ‘be’ in the moment.
5.Stop Worrying by questioning your anxious thoughts
Ask yourself “Is this thinking true and does it have any positive value?” Question your thoughts to make sure that you are not allowing the negative hum drum into your consciousness. If it has no value, kick it out and replace it with a positive affirmation. Give it a go, it works!
