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​Stop Worrying and Start Winning

There are many things to worry about in day-to-day life: meetings and presentations, being on time, obligations to others, and even world peace. Chronic worry, though, may impact your ability to get things done.

More than one third of people worry daily, according to a Success.com article, and the emotion becomes debilitating when it affects sleep, concentration, or health. Worrying can also lead to depression. These tips will help you put your concerns in perspective.

  • Make it boring.

Repeat your worry to yourself very slowly for 10 minutes a day. Experts say it is a very powerful technique that makes the thought become so boring it’s hard to focus on it.

  • Schedule your worry.

If worrisome thoughts cross your mind often, try scheduling 20 minutes a day to think about them. Robert Leahy, Ph.D., author of The Worry Cure: Seven Steps to Stop Worry from Stopping You, recommends writing your concern on a piece of paper when it occurs and putting it aside until it’s scheduled. Leahy says. “The power of the worry dissipates over time.”

  • Assess your concern.

Break the problem down and consider the worst possible, best possible, and most likely outcomes. “Once you realize that even the worst possible outcome is something you can handle, you might feel more at ease,” Leahy told Success.com.

  • Laughter is the best medicine.

When you laugh, it’s difficult to worry, so do it often. Try to find the humor in each stressful situation. It will automatically lighten things up.

For more information and recommendations, see “9 Tips to Stop Worrying” on Success.com.

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