Dr. Vargo

My challenge for you this month: Develop healthy habits that reduce the cycle of worry. Trying to “think” my way out of worry never worked well for me. Developing new habits did.

Below I’ll share a few things that have worked for me.

MENTAL HEALTH HABITS

• Block out time on the calendar for daily exercise. (Exercise releases chemicals that lead to a sense of well-being).
• Limit news and social media intake (which tends to promote a worrisome mindset.)
• Turn off devices after 8 p.m. (This promotes better sleep.)
• Stay present. Develop mindfulness or meditative practices.
• Stay active. Each morning, I write my goals for the day, and I keep my mind and actions focused on those goals.

KEEP PERSPECTIVE

It’s important to remember that worry is concern over a future state that will probably never materialize to the degree we allow it to in our minds. In the words of Mark Twain, “I’ve had a lot of worries in my life, most of which never happened.” OM