Eliana
Worry is something we all encounter at some point. It’s a perfectly normal feeling, and the one that appears naturally as a response to life’s many challenges. For some, it’ll come in the form of fear of not achieving certain goals in life. For others, it’ll manifest as a concern about what could go wrong, even if everything is going pretty well.
While there’s nothing wrong about experiencing worrisome thoughts once in a while, the problem arises when these thoughts become frequent, consuming us and preventing us from living our life to its fullest potential. Fortunately, combating these negative and intrusive thoughts is simply a matter of adjusting the mindset. Below, six useful tips on how to prevent anxiety about the future and minimize its impact on daily life.
Reduce your worry by analyzing risks
Assessing and managing risks is an essential part of our day-to-day life. The thing is, this ability to conduct proper risk assessment tends to be lower in individuals who worry excessively. Reducing your worry is a big part of caring for your mental health, and the best way to do it is to take a more realistic approach.
Whether you’re concerned about your performance at work or a particular situation in your personal life, look at the situation at hand realistically. Is there any real evidence that a particular negative event will take place in the future? Sometimes, our fears aren’t really justified, and they may only be causing unnecessary harm by sabotaging our efforts.
Toggle your perspective by thinking both big and small
Another way to manage your worry and prevent anxiety is to simply change your way of looking at things. Sometimes, we’ll become so consumed with the smallest of details that we’ll forget about how worthy the end goal is. Other times, we’ll spend so much time focusing on how scary the end goal is that even taking the smallest steps will start to feel incredibly overwhelming.
When such situations occur, try to toggle your perspective. Rather than worrying about the things you can’t control, focus on those that you can. Similarly, shift your focus on the bigger picture whenever you struggle with staying motivated. By seesawing between big and small, you can reduce your anxiety and prevent yourself from worrying incessantly.
Take the necessary steps towards change
There are numerous things that could be causing you to feel anxious. As a mother, you may be worried about preventable diseases that could affect your future child’s health as well as the health of other family members. You may also be worrying about how climate change, environmental disasters, and similar global issues will affect the lives of your loved ones.
Rather than letting the what-ifs fuel your anxiety, take positive action. Whether that means looking into preventative medical measures such as Cord blood banking or donating to nonprofit organizations working on solving the climate crisis, see what your options are. Concrete steps like these are what will help keep anxiety at bay. Plus, they’re much more productive than stewing in worry and fear.
Explore different relaxation techniques to cope with anxiety
Speaking of taking positive action, it can also involve making various anxiety-reducing techniques a part of your daily routine. Not everyone is the same, therefore, we can’t expect everyone to cope with anxiety the same way. This is why it’s so important to take the time to figure out what works for you as an individual.
For some, the path to eliminating anxiety and living more mindfully will include utilizing deep breathing techniques and guided imagery. For others, it’ll involve practicing meditation and/or yoga on a daily basis or keeping a journal to help quiet the worrisome thoughts. The truth is, there are so many helpful methods on how to prevent anxiety in the future. It’s up to you to explore them and implement the most effective ones into your day-to-day life.
Pay attention to your self-talk
There’s no doubt that we can be our worst critics at times. While this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, negative self-talk is something you should definitely avoid. Not only is negative self-talk damaging, but it can also make you even more anxious.
While there isn’t a way to banish it completely, you can push back against it. Start by learning how to identify negative self-talk. Then, find ways to swap these worrisome thoughts. Focusing on positive affirmations will go a long way in improving your self-perception while being grateful will boost happiness and ensure inner peace.
Consider professional therapy for some extra support
Anxiety is pretty common these days, and coping with it is a different experience for each individual. While certain coping strategies may work for some, others may require some extra support on their journey. If you find yourself experiencing severe anxiety wondering what lies ahead – so much so that it interferes with your daily life and its overall quality – it’d be best if you’d reach out for help.
The truth is, anxious thoughts tend to get worse with time. Letting them out and working through them, on the other hand, takes their power away. Therefore, instead of going through everything alone, find someone who can help you release your fears. Whether that means relying on an online therapy program, a support group, or a behavioral therapy expert, by getting your worries out in the open, you can manage to build an openness towards uncertainty and stop worrying about the future.
Wrapping up
Life is full of uncertainties, and the feeling of anxiousness is a natural response to these unexpected circumstances. While stress can be beneficial in some instances, it’s important not to let negative thoughts like these disrupt our lives.
Rather than worrying about what the future has in store for you – which will only rob you of joy – focus more on techniques that will help you become more mindful and live in the present moment. Learn how to prevent anxiety about the future, and you’ll be well on your way to living a joyful, fulfilling, and meaningful life.
Bio: Eliana Davison is a Writer/Marketing Specialist with a high interest in wellness and healthy lifestyle. Fashion enthusiast with the aim to inspire people with her writing.
