We have so many responsibilities in our lives, to our mates, families, friends, bosses, and ourselves. Of course, along with responsibility comes worry. Will I be able to keep my promises to my loved ones? Can I meet my professional goals? Can I be a good friend, mate or parent? It’s easy sometimes to let that worrying get out of control. Read on to learn how to worry less and laugh more!

I must confess that I am a champion worrier. I could win the “always worries about things she can’t control” category hands down. (Although I have no blue ribbons to show you, believe me, my friends, family, and especially my boyfriend would back me up.) That is why I have named this article “How to Worry Less” and not “How to Stop Worrying”. I believe that it is impossible to stop worrying cold turkey. I also believe, however, that there are some simple ways to manage our every day anxieties and bring more joy to our lives.

The first step in conquering your worries is to acknowledge them. Say them out loud to yourself or a friend. Write them down. Acknowledging your fears allows you to evaluate their validity. Are they really worth the amount of time you are giving them? Sometimes yes, sometimes no. This is where bouncing your thoughts off a friend or a loved one can come in very handy.

Choose your confidante wisely though. There’s not much worse than the queasy feeling you get after you’ve confessed your deepest darkest secret to an acquaintance at work. If the person you’ve shared your problem with starts taking the long way to the break room to avoid running into you, you know you’ve shared too much. Think before you speak! Expressing your concerns to someone you trust can sometimes show you that you’ve been worrying way too much about something that really isn’t that important. Conversely, it can help you to see the gravity of a situation that you may need to address.

Once you’ve identified the issue you need to resolve, start brainstorming on a solution. Now the proper solution may not actually solve the problem, because let’s face it; not everything is under our control. You can, however, identify what part of the issue you can make a difference on, and make a plan to do so. Once you’ve done that, here’s your big moment! Follow through on your plan.

This may not be easy. Frequently we worry so much about a problem because we know deep down inside what we can do to address the issue, and we don’t want to do it. Confronting a problem can sometimes be difficult and messy. Take it from me though. Once you can really say to yourself that you’ve done all you can to resolve whatever it is you’re worried about, regardless of whether you were successful or not, you will start to feel a lot better.

If you find yourself in a situation that you can’t do anything about, it’s okay to worry a little. Set a time limit though. Allow yourself ten minutes to worry about the problem, and then put it aside. This can be difficult sometimes, but this is where distracting yourself comes in. Go for a walk, do some housework, watch a funny movie, call a friend…. There are many ways to get your mind off your troubles for a while. My favorite way to ease my mind is to tackle a problem I can solve, and solve it!

There may be times in our lives when our worries become more than we can handle with these simple strategies. In these times, it may be helpful to speak to a therapist or another type of mental health professional. We go through many stressful situations in our lives, such as the loss or illness of a loved one, a divorce, or problems in the work place. We can’t always deal with these situations properly on our own, and sometimes talking to a friend is not enough. Don’t be afraid to seek out the help you need.

Many employers offer employee assistance programs that frequently offer confidential referrals for counseling for mental health, legal, financial and family issues. Sometimes the first few sessions are even free! You can also get a list of contracted providers from your insurance company, a referral from your doctor or the Department of Health where you live.

Most of us have so many blessings in our lives. If we can spend less time worrying, we can spend more time enjoying those blessings and live our lives to the fullest. So get out there, tackle what’s weighing you down, and feel free again!