Are you a worrier? I totally am. I worry about everything.
Kate Sweeny, a researcher at the University of California, Riverside has just published a paper that proposes worrying isn’t all bad! Good news, right?!
But what to do if worrying keeps you up at night? Here’s the checklist I use to move forward:
Take Action: Do you have a say in what you’re worrying about? If so, what actionable steps can you take to mitigate an undesirable outcome? (Should you get up and do them right away? Probably – if you want to feel better and get some sleep.)
Take Control: Is there something else you can do to diminish the worrying? Imagine you’re concerned about a job interview that you haven’t heard back from. Why not pursue other opportunities in the meantime? It can help you to feel more powerful if you’re lining up other options for yourself.
Take Help: Are you at the point where you need to talk to someone about this either casually or professionally?
Take a Breath: Give some love to meditation, God, the Universe – whatever you believe in. Somethings are beyond our control, and there’s no getting around that; but sometimes the burden can feel lighter when you clear your mind, take in a few slow breaths, and count the blessings you do have.
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