The ‘Worry Time’: A Meeting With Yourself

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We've all heard about work-life balance, right? ⚖️

Some say it's myth!

But let's not talk about balance today. Instead of chasing balance, let's talk about this ‘uncontrollable’ worry that sneaks in.😣

Ever caught yourself lost in a cycle of racing thoughts and worries, and you find yourself overthinking your non-ending to do list before going to be? (me, yesterday).

As soon as I laid my head on the pillow, my mind began to race. I couldn't stop thinking about my upcoming trip, the tasks at work, all those meetings, the chores waiting for me at home, the phone calls I had to make, and the people I needed to check in with. Even the fun stuff started to feel like a burden.

I kept asking myself, ‘What if something goes wrong?’ and ‘What if I can't get everything done before my flight?’.

It was overwhelming…

Don’t worry, I was able to manage my worries by ‘practicing what I preach’. 

I took a few deep breaths and grounded myself. Whenever I found myself thinking of another task or thing that I have to do, I acknowledged it and returned to focusing on my breath. 

Before I knew it, I had fallen asleep. 💤

Let’s go back to this extreme worry that hit, and figure how to prevent it in the first place.

The Worry Time.

What's The Worry Time, You Ask?

It's quite simple, actually.

You set aside a 5-minute 'worry session' during your day.

Yes, a meeting with yourself. 😇

In this session, you invite all those nagging thoughts to the table – no problem-solving, just listening.

You can write them down. Some people like to draw them!

Once those 5 minutes are up, you declare the meeting closed and move on with your day.

Sounds pretty straightforward, right?

But Why Does This Work?

Well, research shows that when you allocate a specific time to worry, and those worries sneak in at other times, you can gently remind yourself that it's not worry time yet. 😊

Looking back on my night of worry, I realize I could have simply told myself, ‘t's not worry time right now.’ Instead, I could have chosen to jot down all my concerns the following day, knowing I'd address them when the time was right.

Outside of your designated 'worry' time, here are some things you can do:

Set Realistic Goals: Break your tasks into manageable pieces. You'll be surprised how much this reduces worry.

Build a Support System: Don't hesitate to lean on friends or family when needed. Sometimes, sharing your concerns can make a world of difference!

Write Down Your Wins: Celebrate your victories, no matter how small. It can boost your confidence.

Practice Mindfulness: Take a moment to be present. Breathe, focus on the now, and let go of what you can't control 

Remember, You're in Control!

It's about taking control without letting worries control you.

Take home message: 

The key here is taking control without letting worries control you. You've got the power to decide when to give those nagging thoughts the spotlight 💪

Now, I'm curious – how do you usually deal with your worries? 

If you ever find yourself facing challenges in managing your worries or anxiety, don't hesitate to reach out and send me a message or an email on kindmindbydana@gmail.com 😊

Yours truly,

Dana 

Kindness is not just a virtue, it's a way of life

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