header

2 Tricks to Help You Stop Worrying

HOW TO EASE YOUR MIND

Article by Kate Baxendale

Photography by Stock Images

Do you often find yourself worrying about your life? Your loved ones? The state of the world? While having concerns and fears is normal, letting these thoughts overwhelm you and consume you is not. In the article Psychological Tricks to Help You Stop Worrying from Psychology Today, the author shares two simple tricks to help ease your mind.

1. Develop a realistic sense of control.

Identify what is within your control and what isn't. For example, you can control how eye-catching your marketing ads are, but you can’t control whether people buy your product.

Additionally, you can give your employees the tools they need to succeed, but you can’t force them to be productive.

When you strike a healthy balance of control, you’ll see that you can choose your own attitude and behavior, but you can’t control many external factors. 

So when you’re faced with a problem or experiencing discomfort, ask yourself, “Is this a problem I can solve? Or do I need to change how I feel about the problem?”

If it’s within your control, tackle the problem. If it’s out of your control, focus on changing your emotional state. Use healthy coping skills, like engaging in a hobby or practicing meditation, to deal with the uncomfortable emotions that get stirred up when things are out of your control.

2. Schedule time to worry.

Most of the people who come into my therapy office looking for a solution on how to stop worrying want it fast and easy. But there isn’t a magic trick or special pill that will make you stop worrying right away.

There is a psychological trick, however, that can help you contain your worrying. The trick involves scheduling time to worry. It sounds ridiculous on the surface. But it really works. And there are studies to back it up.

Set aside 15 minutes each day to worry. Mark it on your calendar, or add it to your schedule. Make it consistent if you can. Think something like, "I'll worry from 7 to 7:15 p.m., every night." (You might not want to worry right before bedtime though. That might keep you up).

Whenever you catch yourself worrying outside of your time frame, remind yourself it's not time to worry and that you'll have plenty of time to think about those worries during your scheduled time.

Once you arrive at your worry time, then worry all you want. Sit and think about all the worries that are outside of your control. You can even write them down if you prefer.

Then, after 15 minutes have passed, tell yourself it's time to get back to your everyday life. Get up and go about your usual business. With consistent practice, research shows you’ll contain your worries to just 15 minutes a day. That’s a big improvement if you’re used to worrying 24/7.

READ MORE: Psychological Tricks to Help You Stop Worrying

Related Businesses

Preferred Care at Home of Sumner

Mental Health

Preferred Care at Home of Sumner

Gallatin, TN

Preferred Care at Home of North Nashville, Davidson, Sumner and Wilson counties is the leader in providing access to quality...

BackFit Health + Spine

Chiropractors

BackFit Health + Spine

Chandler, AZ

BackFit Health + Spine is a full service medical, chiropractic and physical therapy practice that works to provide...

Griffith Dermatology

Women's Health

Griffith Dermatology

Knoxville, TN

Medical and cosmetic dermatology from expert (board certified) dermatologists Drs. Robert C. Griffith and Dr. Rob Griffith...

See More

Related Articles

See More