Now, this is a quote I need taped to my bathroom mirror:
“Worrying does not empty tomorrow of its troubles. It empties today of its strength.” Corrie ten Boom
Yes, I’m a worrier. And so are a lot of other people I know.
We’re old enough to realize there are many things in this world to worry about, yet we’re too young to have the wisdom to realize they’re not worth the worry.
Where does that leave us? Right in the middle—and filled with anxiety!
Think of all the time we lose each day because we’re obsessing over what we need to get done by the next morning, or before the week is over, or during the following month.
As the quote says, all this worry empties our days and makes them weak. Worse, it steals our lives, taking time we can never replace.
But I have the perfect solution. (Well, at least for those things we have power over. Check in next week for a discussion of those things we can’t control.)
What we need now is a To-Do list and a timer. And this is what we do:
1. Grab paper and pencil or get to the computer and do a mental purge. Write down everything we can think of that needs to be done.
Of course, we’ll refer to the list frequently. But our minds will be free to focus on one task at a time. We’ll be able to live in the moment instead of sacrificing our lives to next week or next year.
2. Once a day, sit down with that comprehensive To-Do list and the timer.
With everything in one place, we should need only a minute or two to update the list and decide what we’ll tackle that day.
Then why do we need the timer?
Let’s face it, we can’t turn off our thoughts altogether. But we can focus on the worry in the same way we focus on the work to be done.
That’s why we use the timer. To control how much of our lives we spend worrying.
I’m thinking five minutes a day will do it for me.
What’s going to work for you?
All my best to you,
So I should get a worry timer? LOL I watched the movie, Eat, Pray, Love. I loved the book, and the movie was all right. But I was glad for the reminder from her Bali yoga instructor to smile with her liver while meditating. Since then, whenever I worry I remind myself to smile with my heart (or various body parts). That helps with worry — and pretty much everything.
I’m making a TO DO list on a long post it note to keep on my desk. I love your idea of attacking one thing on the list per day.
~~Angi
Barbara, wonderful quote! Great idea on the timer along with the To-Do-List.
Over months and years, my list appears, then disappears. Thanks for the reminder that worry isn’t productive.
Five minutes a day sounds doable.
Best,
Edie – they say that smiling (with your mouth) can actually cause a physiological change in the brain that helps with depression.
As for the timer, whatever you want to call it will work.
Barbara
Angi – you go, girl!
Best of luck–and let me know how it works.
Barbara
Carol – I’m glad you liked the reminder.
Fingers crossed the five-minute worry limit helps, too.
Barbara
Hey there Barbara! I’m a list maker by nature-I love crossing items off. I’m also huge worrier, mostly about useless stuff. I never thought of using my lists to help eliminate the worrying. What a concept. Thanks!
Maryanne – glad you like the idea! Hope it works well for you.
Check in next week, when we’ll talk about the useless stuff we worry about.
Barbara
Yep, we certainly do put a lot of stress on ourselves by worrying about what we can’t control. I find that if my mind is racing because I think I have to do things faster, I slow down, breath deep and remind myself it does not have to be done faster. A list is good for me, but a timer would actually stress me out.
Denise A. Agnew
LOL Great theory. In theory it can work, but I’m at a point in my life where I just don’t worry. It’s a waste of energy.
Worry is mostly a woman thing. Most men don’t worry about things they can’t control. Of course, there are exceptions.
Denise – whatever works!
The deep breathing is an excellent idea, too.
Barbara
Sandy – for right now, I’m happy with keeping my worrying to five minutes.
But you’re my new idol!
Barbara