Why Use A Worry Journal?
Times are changing…
There are plenty of things to be anxious about…
But when you really think about it, what does worrying accomplish?
I have been a worrier for most of my life. Because I learned from the best, my family represents generations of worriers.
You can worry about the weather; or how about an upcoming appointment. You can even worry about what’s for supper.
We’d all love to live a worry-free life. Yet, the reality is that there’s always going to be something to worry about.
Whether it’s small everyday worries or worries such as financial troubles, they can build up and become problematic to your health.
But I discovered that there’s a great way to control your worries and prevent them from becoming overwhelming? Keeping a worry journal can have a lot of benefits to your health and wellbeing.
So, what is a worry journal and how do they work? Below, you’ll discover everything you need to know about worry journals to help you decide whether keeping one would be beneficial to you.
If you treat every situation as life and death, you'll die many times. Try using a worry journal to alleviate your worries Click To TweetWhat is a worry journal?
A worry journal is pretty much what its name suggests – a place you can write down all of your worries. But won’t this intensify your worries if you’re spending extra time focusing on them? While it’s logical to think this would be the case, it can actually help to reduce your worries when used correctly.
When you worry, it often leads to feelings of anxiety, stress, and depression. Often our worries impact our health and wellbeing when they remain inside. Over time, as our worries build up, they need to be released. This often results in burnout, alongside a range of mental and physical issues.
Worry journals can be an excellent tool at helping you to control your worries. They can prevent long-term issues with anxiety and stress.
How are 3 Ways a Worry Journal Can Work
Worry journals are really easy to start and maintain. While you can use them to jot down any worries that come into your mind, there are other ways to get more out of them.
If you want your worry journal to work for you, you’re going to want to test and challenge your worries. Let’s look at some more ways to get results from a worry journal.
1)Writing your worries down
The first step is to begin by writing down all of the worries you currently have. When you write down each thing that is worrying you, you’ll automatically find it releases the power they have over you.
You’ll only need to spend a few minutes listing your worries to start to feel the benefits. Some people find this simple step is enough to reduce their worries. But you may find it beneficial to move onto the next step of evaluating them.
2)Evaluating your worries
Once you have your worries written down, you can start checking them out. This means asking yourself a few questions to determine why you have these worries and what you’re actually worried about will happen.
So, for example, it could be you’re worried you’ll fail in school. Write down why you have this worry and what you think will happen. Also, write down the emotions you’re feeling because of the perceived problem.
By taking the time to test your worries, you’ll gain a much better understanding of them. This will, in turn, help you with the final step of challenging your worries.
3)Challenging your worries
Once you have a greater understanding of your worries, you can work on reducing them. With a worry journal, you can challenge your worries by asking yourself a series of questions. These include:
- Is there any evidence to support my worries?
- What is the worst thing that could happen?
- Could I look at the situation in a different way?
- What evidence do I have that could argue against the worry?
These are just some of the useful questions which can help you to determine whether the worry is necessary. Often, when it comes to challenging them, we realize our worries aren’t as bad as we perceived them to be.
Worrying is a hard habit to break. If you worry constantly, you are putting yourself at a disadvantage. Identify your urge to look back or ponder the future. Instead remain in the present. Fortunately, there are tools like the worry journal. It can be very freeing as it was for me.
If you follow the method above, you’ll feel so much better. A worry journal is a very simple, yet very effective tool for reducing anxiety and preventing excessive worry.
I am Shirley Noah and I can equip you with the necessary tools to achieve a “stress-free” life by using simple lifestyle choices and healthy habits.
Check out https://ingoodhealthcoach.com