I keep a notebook, like many people do.

One of the things I use it for is to write my worries down. Because I'm a worrier-- you probably are one as well. But I probably have you beat, since worrying is one of my favorite pastimes.

Unfortunately, it's a completely useless one, since worrying has never changed anything in the history of ever.

So what has helped?

Writing my worries down so I can read them later. The "read them later" part is the key. I write down what is worrying me that day, and I really get into it. I revel in all the horrible things I can imagine will go wrong if I do or don't do whatever it is that is worrying me. "What ifs" are my favorites -- what if this or that happened. I write them all down, until I can't think of anything else to worry about.

That feels good, but not as good as I feel when I reread my worries a few days later.

When I go back and read about what had me so very worried just a few days before I more often than not realize how silly most of those worries are. I feel relief that the worry I was swimming in was mostly in my head. And sometimes I realize that there are a few things that are worth thinking about further -- not to dwell on worrying about them, but so that I can do something to change them.

Creating a bit of space between my mind and my worries works wonders for me. Maybe it will for you as well.

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