How to Leave Your Worries Behind

Approximately 2 in 5 people say they worry every day.  The average adult spends about 1 hour and 50 minutes worrying about something.  Worry can negatively influence your memory, relationships, and physical health, yet 85% of what we worry about actually has a positive or neutral outcome! Here are 14 ways to leave your worry behind:

1. Ditch the night owl: Keeping regular sleep hours lessens negative thinking/worry.
2. Do yoga: People with anxiety benefit from regular yoga practice.
3. Be mindful: Mindfulness and meditation practices help reduce worry.
4. Higher power: Fostering a belief that a higher power has your best interest at heart helps.
5. Exercise: People who exercise are able to improve their mood and reduce worry.
6. Declutter: Taking 15 minutes to tidy your space can reduce anxiety.
7. Gratitude: Express gratitude at least once per da.
8. Drop the cookies: Sugar and processed foods increase anxiety.
9. Quiet time: Even 5 minutes of quiet time per day can reduce anxiety.
10. Problem-Solve: Grab a pen and spend time brainstorming solutions to the worries in your control.
11. Worry time: Set a specific time each day dedicated to worrying. When worries pop up at other times, jot them down and know you can think about them later
12. Reframe: Ask yourself if the worry is true, if it’s not, consider how unhelpful it is to think about it.
13. Middle Road: There are worst case and best case scenarios, make sure you identify the middle of the road option, it’s always the most likely outcome.
14. Talk it out: Often when we say our worries out loud, it changes the way we see the situation. Talk to yourself, a loved one, a co-worker, or call Well In Mind.

Well In Mind is here for you.  Call 815-933-2240 to schedule an appointment or to ask about your EAP benefits.