4 Ways to Live More and Worry Less
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Truthfully – worry used to be my default setting. I would overthink everything, from what I said in a conversation three days ago to whether I was doing enough, being enough, achieving enough. Sound familiar?
But over time, I have started to unpick that constant buzz of anxiety. Not in some grand, dramatic way – just small shifts. Tiny changes that help me breathe a little easier, feel a little lighter, and enjoy the day I am in rather than the one I am stressing about.
Here are four things that help me live more and worry less. Maybe they’ll help you too.
Let the small stuff stay small
Not everything needs a deep analysis (though I do love a good overthink). I have started asking myself: Will this matter next week? If the answer’s no, I try to let it go. Someone cuts you off in traffic? Annoying, sure, but not worth your peace. That awkward message you sent? Chances are, no one is giving it a second thought. Life’s too short to carry it all.
Try not to let every bump in the road turn into a mountain. When things go a little sideways, just pause, take a deep breath, let it go, and move on. Don’t let the tiny things steal too much space.
Get out of your head and into your body
Whenever I feel worry creeping in, I know it’s time to move. I’m not talking about becoming a gym warrior – just moving in a way that feels good. A walk around the block. Stretching with music on. Dancing like a fool in the kitchen. It doesn’t fix everything, but it always shifts something. My breath slows. My thoughts soften. And suddenly, the day feels manageable again.
Worry loves to loop itself in circles. One of the kindest things you could do is to bring yourself back into the present moment in a way that helps you feel grounded – even if just for a while.
Do one thing just for joy
No productivity attached. No outcome required. Just something that makes you feel alive. Maybe it’s painting badly. Making a playlist. Baking something you will probably eat straight out of the tray. I used to feel guilty for doing ‘pointless’ things – but those are often the moments that make life feel full.
Don’t do the joyful things because someone else expects it, do them because they make you feel good. Make joy a reason, not a reward.
Speak kindly to yourself
You would never speak to a friend the way you sometimes speak to yourself, would you? I have been trying to notice the tone of my inner voice – and change it when I can. When I mess up, I say, It’s OK. You’re human. When I feel overwhelmed, I tell myself, You’re doing your best. It sounds simple, but it changes everything.
The way we talk to ourselves shapes the way we move through the world. Being gentler with yourself and softening your internal dialogue is not easy – but it’s worth it.