Your 1-Minute Guide to Beating Worries

This New Year brought with it many changes in our personal and professional lives. Some of us may be beginning new phases in our careers, balancing our to-do lists with our relationships, awaiting positive developments from the pandemic and more. Change is constant but unfamiliar territory can be scary. How can we best handle our mental health in moments of uncertainty?

For many of us, our minds jump straight to worst-case scenarios. And stay there. Visualising worst outcomes in situations may be a defense mechanism, but most of our worries actually don’t materialise. When dealing with uncertainty, psychologists suggest three remedies. First, focus on what you can control. Think about your daily schedule, how you build your social circle or what you pay attention to. Increased feelings of control can boost your resilience. Another tip is to balance out your negative thoughts with neutral and objective ones. Exploring self-compassionate affirmations are a great way to do this. And as always, trust in your ability to figure things out. It’s impossible to anticipate every single challenge or downfall. Rather than listing every possible worry, reflect on your stress management plan that can apply to any worry. Who would you talk to? What tools work for you? Rest assured, with an adaptable plan in place, you’ll increase your ability to be present.