To be honest I am a consummate worrier. As much as I try to do as my father begged me on his death bed…” don’t worry about things you can do nothing about, focus on what you can do to make your life better”. I still worry almost every waking moment. Not about myself so much but those around me, my kids, my granddaughter, my neighbours, and on and on.
I know it is not healthy, but for me, it is better than focusing on myself. And really there is nothing about me that I need to worry about. I have for the most part my health.
If you have visited my other site healthy wealthy aging you will recognize my repeated message “Your Health is Your Wealth”.
In real life, though there seems to be lots of stuff going on that puts that health at risk.
There are some days we’d rather just not get up for it. Let’s face it, we all go through times of intense stress and worry. The world seems to be in such turmoil, so divided and at war with itself.
The idea of unwinding at all in these circumstances can feel impossible. However, it is in these uncertain and unsettling times that it is even more important for us to ways in which we can unwind and get away from it all, even if only in our minds.
With this in mind, let’s take a look at several tips designed to help you unwind even when you’re concerned and worried.
A lot of what we’re doing when we’re worrying is living in the future. We’re caught in a world of ‘what if’ and speculation. This is why it’s crucial to get back into the here and now.
Mindfulness or meditation can help you focus on where you are right now. Close your eyes and focus on your breathing. Don’t allow thoughts to intrude. Instead, allow yourself to drift, thinking about what you hear or smell.
It doesn’t have to take long. Even a few minutes of mindfulness will help you to unwind significantly.
Ask yourself the following:
What are you worried about most often?
Is this a reasonable worry?
Sometimes all we need to unwind is a quick reality check.
You might be overthinking things. If you’re not sure if you see the situation clearly, this might be a good time to talk to someone else about what’s going on. Do they see things the same way?
There are some things you’re not going to be able to change about what’s going on right now. Remind yourself whatever is happening is just another piece of this particular segment of your life. You will get through it. You’ll find it easier to relax if you can release what is out of your control.
Sometimes when we’re worried, we’re falling into the trap of thinking things are very black and white. Generally speaking, things are seldom as bad as we imagine them to be. Take a deep breath and let the situation unfold as it will without trying to predict the future.
Sometimes we get in the habit of seeking out the negative, especially when it comes to ourselves. Could it be you’re worried about something which isn’t even true? Consider the words you use when talking to yourself. If you’re using more negative than positive phrasing, start changing the dialogue to more positive statements. It’s a lot easier to unwind when you’re not beating yourself up all the time.
While these tips might not necessarily solve the crisis in your life, they’ll help you to put even difficult times into a better perspective, allowing you to at least take some time to breathe and figure out the next steps.
Truly, you’ve got this!