If You Overworry - Read this

I tend to overworry. It's like your brain is playing an endless game of "what if" and "worst-case scenario"  

I worry about my boss (I don’t even work for the boss I used to worry about. Of course, there is a new boss to worry about.). I worry about failing exams, which I almost never did. I worry about the stock market crashing, even though I probably won’t need that money in the next 20 years. I worry about my family’s immigration status, although we are all living happily outside Hong Kong.

We worry about things. We know that they are unlikely to happen. We know that worrying won’t help. We know that it is silly. But we couldn’t stop.

Gradually and fortunately, I developed a few strategies that have worked for me: -

1. I create a to-do-list for the items that I worry about, and make sure this is the best I am willing to do for that particular risk. I do the items there, and I put that aside.
2. I distract myself by doing something which takes my full attention. I watch a movie, go play badminton, or walk my dog (who demands all attention).
3. Mediation - it sounds a bit hippy, but it actually works. Try it, there are hundres of apps about this now.
4. Imagine the worst-case scenario and give it a percentage likelihood of happening. This may seem counter-intuitive, but it can actually help put things in perspective and make you realize how unlikely some of your worries really are.
5. Sleep well helps a lot with anxiety. Don't let your worries disrupt your sleep. Mute your phone at night so your boss can't send you messages that keep you up, and delete your stock market app if it's causing you anxiety.
6. Think of the things you worried about in the past. Public exam, drama with your first love, your first school picnic, all the things which seemed so important back then. Well, after all the roller coaster, you are doing quite well, aren’t you?
7. Imagine that you're giving advice to a friend who is going through the same thing you are. What would you tell them? Follow that advice.
   

As most other things, it is easier said than done “not to over-worry”. So chill, my friend - most of the things will work out. And if they don’t, worrying about them won’t help.

Do you over-worry? How are you coping with that?  Comment below. And if you find this helpful, share this with a friend who worry about things!