Seven Ways to Worry Less and Live Better

Life can be stressful for so many reasons, but if you find yourself identifying as a chronic worrier, it's time to slow down, take a deep breath, and find some ways to ease your worries. As an individual that has struggled with worrying in the past, I hope that I can help you to find some easy ways to reduce the amount that you worry and lower your stress level.

Ease Your Worries Tip #1 - Realize the Advantages of Not Worrying
Not worrying has so many advantages compared to worrying. You have a lower stress level, you get more sleep, you can focus on the present, and you can enjoy life more. Worrying has no advantages other than being able to be relieved after dreading the worst. Hopefully the advantages of not worrying provide motivation to embrace a calmer, more relaxed state of mind. If you're reading this, you likely have identified a problem and wish to worry less.

Ease Your Worries Tip #2 - Don't Identify as a Worrier
If you explain chronic worrying as "Oh, I'm just a worrier," you're more likely to continue worrying because you associate worrying with who you are. Likewise, "I worry too much" is somewhat negative, though it acknowledges a problem. It's much better to say something like "I am a person that is working on worrying less." It identifies the action that you are trying to reduce and frames your goal in a positive manner. Besides, you should be proud of what you're doing.

Ease Your Worries Tip #3 - Recognize When You Start to Worry
Most people start worrying by thinking about a little thing, then they add a medium-sized thing to their worries, and finally all of their smaller concerns combine into a giant mess of mental anguish. If you find yourself beginning to worry, stop yourself early on and avoid getting worked up. Worrying less isn't an automatic process, but if you can stop yourself from worrying about small things, large things will follow.

Ease Your Worries Tip #4 - Consider the Long Term
When you are confronted with something that makes you begin to worry, consider the long-term outcome. Ask yourself, "Will this matter in a year? In five years?" If the answer is "no," try not to worry about the matter. A related question is "Will anyone remember this in six months?" This is especially useful for those that have to give presentations on any regular basis.

Ease Your Worries Tip #5 - Accept What You Can and Cannot Change
Sometimes you have control over situations and other times you don't. If there is something that you have no power to change, such as the weather during an outdoor wedding, don't worry about it. Focus on what you can change, such as the process for moving everything indoors in case of rain. If there's nothing you can do, then accept that you have to wait and do your best not to worry.

Ease Your Worries Tip #6 - Stay Busy
I find that I worry more when I don't have anything to do. If I am busy and engaged, I focus on the task at hand and worry less. See if staying busy helps you keep your mind off of the things that worry you.

Ease Your Worries Tip #7 - Seek Counseling
If you absolutely cannot stop yourself from worrying on your own, I suggest that you seek professional help in the form of counseling. Yes, counseling is an investment of time and money, but if counseling allows you to have a substantially better standard of living, it is worth every cent.

I hope that you find these tips useful in your pursuit of a less stressful life. Thank you for reading!