I have, and probably always will be, a worrier. I have had my fair share of worry-filled episodes, especially as a child, in which I practically could not function without thinking constantly about something insignificant that made me irrationally anxious. I worry about things that deserve to be worried about, and I worry about things that are so unimportant that I wonder why I ever give them the light of day. From worrying about school, tests, natural disasters, sickness, world events, work and studying, I found myself worrying more than actually being productive. I know I am not the only one who struggles with the plague of worries, so I figured I could offer some advice that has helped me throughout the years that I wish I had learned earlier in life.

Don’t feel like you have to worry.

It is so strange, but I know that many people, including myself, feel like they are obligated to worry about a situation, or else you will essentially “jinx” the circumstances. There have been so many times that I can think of in which I involuntarily forced myself to become anxious because I thought that my worrying would help the situation resolve in a positive way. This is one of the hardest feelings to explain, because it essentially makes zero sense. But for those of us who feel obligated to have irrational concerns, know that it is not necessary. Place some trust in fate that everything will turn out the way that it should. Because it will.

Put the situation in perspective.

This might actually be the most difficult piece of advice to master. It is so difficult to think “Will this actually matter in a year, a week, or even in a few hours?” This honestly takes a large amount of practice, and you basically have to train your brain to question your worrisome mind. Most likely, the thing you are feeling worried about will not matter in the long run. I still need to remind myself of this daily, that I am anxious about something that hasn’t even happened or has no potential of actually happening.

Know that you cannot control everything.

A lot of times we feel responsible for things that we are worrying about. Personally, one thing that I typically worry about is making sure that everyone is happy. I am such a people-pleaser that I sacrifice my happiness to make sure that everyone around me is happy. But those of us who worry about others have to realize that we cannot control all that others do or think. We have to learn to “let it go” and know that it is a waste of time to fret over the freewill of others.

Write them down.

So much relief can come from expressing worries, even in the form of writing. Also, writing down the things that you worry about can help you with putting them in perspective. As you read them back to yourself, you may start to realize how ridiculous they can be.

Pray.

I have found so much solace and relief from my worrying by simply talking to God about it. He has truly aided me by bringing peace to my racing mind. Sometimes you just feel like you have no one to talk to, but try to remember that God is, and always will be there.

I know much of this advice is easier said than done, but I have personally found that the above advice has helped me calm my mind and put my worries into perspective. For those of us who are constant worriers, know that you are not alone in this worry-inducing world.