Schedule Time To Worry
Are you someone who often worries about everything? Do you find yourself always thinking about what needs to be done or what could possibly happen? In today’s try this at home tip, I want to encourage you to schedule time to worry. Worry is a form of anxiety. Anxiety stems from feeling out of control and focusing in the future on something that has not happened. If we allow ourselves, it can be easy to have worry consume our lives. Worry can be about large significant matters such as illness or smaller events that may never happen. Worry hits us during a meeting, while sitting at a stoplight and often during the night as we attempt to go to sleep (or wake up).
Setting aside a time each day to worry allows you to control your thoughts in a more manageable manner.
Depending upon your personality style, it may be more beneficial to schedule time to worry in the morning or in the evening before bed. It is also important to only allow a small amount of time to worry – such as 15 minutes. A set time forces you to specifically think about what you are worried about and possibly create solutions. It may also be helpful to write the worries down. Taking them from your thoughts to paper makes the worries tangible. By creating a list, one can often find there aren’t as many worries nor are they as overwhelming as once believed.Do you feel you would benefit from scheduling time to worry?
Try This At Home is a weekly series offering tips and suggestions to make your life easier and happier.
]]>
I never thought of scheduling time to worry! How beneficial this may be!! Great post. I worry a lot and try not to let my anxiety get to me but my family is a bunch of worriers so I think it comes natural!
I do think anxiety and worry can be modeled for us and then we feel it is natural. If you schedule time to worry, if those thoughts come up you can tell yourself – that’s for later. Would love to hear if you try it. Thanks for stopping by.
I never thought of that….I do worry a lot. I tend to overthink. I question a lot of things. Not quite sure why. I am in no way insecure. I just always want to make it right for everyone….I might have to think about scheduling time for that. Maybe it will help clear my head for a good night’s sleep. Thank you!
Chrissy, it really may help you organize your thoughts. Since you are an over thinker, I wouldn’t schedule too much time- just 10 minutes or so. Anymore time and you may find yourself going down a rabbit hole.
I have never thought of this! Scripture memory helps me as a form of meditation. I need to set time aside every day even if I am not particularly anxious that day!
It can be like a form of journaling. Putting aside time to make a list of what needs to be addressed or thought about. It may even help you not worry.
I’ve never thought about this. I’m a worrier…through and through. Writing these things down may greatly help me, so thank you for the idea.
I hope you will try writing things down. It truly is amazing how much better it makes one feel to see that typically the worries aren’t as great as they appear.
I am a huge worrier. I would worry about my schedule time to worry. It’s terrible! I wish I could be more foot loose and fancy free but alas.. my DNA is not set up that way.
Many of us are set to be more anxious/worrisome but it is possible to create new techniques.
I’m a worrier. I don’t worry about things all the time and I try not to focus on it, but I definitely worry more than I should. I should try scheduling a time!
When you find yourself overwhelmed, try giving yourself an allotted time frame.
What an interesting concept and one that I think definitely has its merits. If you allot time to worry you can free your mind during the rest of the day. Love this idea and I am definitely going to give it a try (as I am writing my worriers down!). As always, thanks for a great post!
It’s amazing how writing down our worries (or anxieties) makes them less overwhelming. We can work with things that we see. Thank you Anne! XOXO
A great idea. I did write them down and that helped. Now, I can just vocalize them to my husband. For some reason, just saying what I am worried about helps a ton, then I don’t “stew” over it.
When we keep all of our worries “in our head” they get bigger and bigger. Writing them down or telling someone makes them more tangible.
This sounds like such a great idea!
xx
Lauren Elizabeth
Petite in Pearls
It’s something we can all try.
This is such an interesting take that I’ve never thought of!
It’s a technique that works for many people. You’re able to keep doing what you need to do but also not “stop” worrying.
Interesting idea, Sheryl! Sometimes, trying to stop myself from worrying adds more stress, so having a set time for worry would seem to alleviate that. I’m going to keep this idea in mind as I deal with my own anxiety.
This really does work for many people. The thoughts may come but you simply state “that’s for later.” You are not stopping yourself, simply acknowledging that you can’t do it at that time. As a result, you may get more accomplished with your set time to worry.
This is a very interesting idea. I tend to worry and stress out throughout the day. I may need to schedule in some time to work on this. Thanks so much for linking this up for the Best in the Blogosphere linky party!
Thanks Chelsee! If you are someone who worries throughout the day it may help to know you can’t do it until a certain time.
I wish I could learn to worry less. I feel like I worry too much. Especially as I get older.
liz @ j for joiner
My therapist was just telling me to schedule time to worry last week! It really sounds like a good idea for those of us who easily get caught up in worrying too much. Thank you for the reminder!