There are days we’d rather not go through. Let’s face it, we all go through times of intense stress and worry. The kind of worry that won’t stop, won’t let up, and won’t let you think about anything else.

The concept of unwinding at all in these circumstances can feel impossible. At the same time, it’s during these bad days where we need to unwind more than ever.

With this in mind, let’s take a look at five tips designed to help you unwind even when your worry won’t stop.

Start By Getting Back into the Moment

Worrying is living in the future. We’re caught in a world of ‘what if’ and speculation. This is why it’s crucial to get back into the here and now. Mindfulness or meditation can help you focus on where you are right now. Close your eyes and focus on your breathing. Don’t allow thoughts to intrude — just breathe in, breathe out. Move on to allow yourself to drift, thinking only about what you hear or smell. It doesn’t have to take long. Just a few minutes of focused thinking will help you to unwind significantly.

Are You Being Reasonable?

What are you worried about most often? Is this a reasonable worry? Sometimes all we need to unwind is a quick reality check. You might be overthinking things. If you’re not sure that you see the situation clearly, this might be a good time to talk to someone else about what’s going on. Do they see things the same way? Allow them to share freely with you the way they see the situation.

Let Go

There are some things you simply won’t be able to change about what’s going on right now. Remind yourself that whatever is happening is just another piece of this particular moment of your life – it is not your whole life. You will get through it. You’ll find it easier to relax if you can release what is out of your control.

Forget Being the Fortune-Teller

Sometimes when we’re worried, we fall into the trap of thinking things are very black and white. They aren’t. There are all sorts of factors and nuances that you can’t see nor predict. Generally speaking, things are seldom as bad as we imagine them to be. Take that deep breath and let the situation unfold as it will without trying to predict the future. 

Ask: What Are You Telling Yourself?

Sometimes we get in the habit of seeking out the negative, especially when it comes to ourselves. Could it be that you’re worried about something that isn’t even true? Consider the words you use when talking to yourself. If you’re using more negative than positive phrasing, change your self-dialogue to more positive statements. Be as kind to you as you would be to your friend. It’s a lot easier to unwind when you’re not beating yourself up all the time.

These tips might not necessarily solve the crisis in your life, but they’ll help you to put the most difficult times into a better perspective, allowing you to at least take some time to breathe and figure out the next steps. 

Truly, you’ve got this!