Do you often pull an all-nighter awake on the bed, tossing and turning? Does the worry of the future and thoughts of the past make you anxious? Do constant thoughts play on your mind in an infinite loop?
These are signs of worry, which prevents you from moving forward, and sometimes, it may also take a toll on your body. So, how do you stop worrying and start living in the moment? Here are some tips for a smooth sail:
- Learn to let go – More often than not, we get attached to material things or people. Even some situations or outcomes. The feeling of an impending loss creates massive anxiety or worry for a lot of people. We tend to feel that we will lose them or be unhappy with the void.
- Focus on the present – No one can ever change the past. The constant rumination of what could have or should have been erodes our present moments away. You must make a conscious decision and focus on the present.
Remember, the only thing you can change is how you conduct yourself in the moment. Enjoy where you are in life right now. Settle for the right choices to shape a future, thereby creating the life you want for yourself and your loved ones.
- Accept that you are not always in control – Are you unable to find the perfect job role? Did you break up with your partner even though you gave your 100% in the relationship? Thoughts like this can plague us for life and be a source of constant worry.
Worrying generally stems from assuming that everything is in our control. But once you start accepting and admitting that things are the way they are and you have absolutely no role to play in it, you will feel tremendous relief.
As the Serenity prayer goes – “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.”
- Keep a check on your issues – Issues can crop up anytime and anywhere. However, pretending that there are no issues whatsoever, doesn’t really help. On the contrary, address them and make it a point to keep a check on them. Retrospect – what’s causing them and why? The earlier you acknowledge the presence of the issues, the easier they will be to tackle. This takes us to the next point.
- Be in charge of your life – Sometimes, we are too laid back to sit up and take charge of our lives. We keep procrastinating and putting things off till the last moment. Whether it is about taking decisions about our health or sorting finances, delaying the tasks only makes them worse. So, don’t just sit there and watch things unfold. Take the lead and do what’s necessary to keep your life on track.
- Declutter – Have heaps of papers, bills, notes, and other objects on your desk? What about your house? Is it unkempt with things randomly kept everywhere? Or do you have a wardrobe full of clothes and items you haven’t used in over a year?
These are tell-tale signs of the need for decluttering.
Apart from reducing stress and anxiety, decluttering also improves your sleeping patterns, boosting your productivity and creativity. Overall, it plays a vital role in reducing allergens and, therefore, enhances your physical well-being. Most importantly, decluttering helps you become more organized and productive.
- Take a digital detox – In the age where we are dictated by gadgets and social media, it is easy to get overwhelmed. Think about it, the first thing we often do before going to bed or waking up is to check our phones. You never know what you will come across that may trigger you into worrying. Also, during both these times, the mind needs to be in a peaceful state.
Start by getting rid of the apps you don’t really need, limit your screen time and swap gadgets with various other activities. It will take some time to put this into practice, but you will feel a massive difference.
- Meditate – Meditation is one of the best ways to focus on the present moment, especially when you don’t feel yourself. It calms you down, eases your stress, and boosts happy hormones that add to the inner harmony. There are several meditation techniques that help you feel more relaxed.
With several free meditation apps on the rise, you can practice it on the go anywhere and anytime.
These are some small but significant steps that can help you stop worrying. The idea is to eliminate anything that triggers stress and causes anxiety. Be kind to yourself, get organized, start enjoying the present moment and let go of anything that doesn’t add value to your life.
