Time Spent Worrying (part two)

See the 6/2/2005 entry, Time Spent Worrying for reasons to stop worrying.

If the idea of not worrying is wonderful, but you have no idea of how to change that habit, or it seems easier said than done, perhaps this approach will work for you...as a temporary step or as an alternative option:

1. Set aside a specific amount of time once a day. You can make it 5 minutes, 30 minutes, or 60 minutes. Schedule whatever is feasible for you.

2. In that time frame, do nothing but worry. Spend all your mental energy focusing on just your problems, concerns, fears, or the future. Make it the best worrying you've ever done.

3. When your time is up, discipline yourself to stop worrying and move on with your day's tasks. After all, you have tomorrow scheduled to worry again.

Either this will give your mind the time it asks for to have your true worries, or this will help you see that it is draining and perhaps not worth the time you set aside for it.

Try this for at least 2-3 days to see how it affects you.