Something I struggle with is always worrying. It runs in my family. I remember even as a teenager my dad would check to see if we had fallen off the balcony when he couldn’t find us in the house.
However, ruminating on situations is counterproductive -- it drains energy and takes you out of the present. A great hack: Schedule time to worry.
When I find myself ruminating, I book 30 minutes in my calendar to “Worry about X.” This action helps me compartmentalize and immediately calms me. Often by the time my block rolls around, the issue is not as hot, allowing me to think more clearly.
Alexis Jhamb, an exec at Chevron, takes this a step further, spending 20 minutes every month to write down everything that stresses her. Then she asks, “What can I do in the next 30 days to reduce the stress?”
Try it: Write down your worries to make them feel more manageable. Think through solutions to put yourself in control.
Keep calm and mother on.
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