The Hakuna Matata List
5 Practical Ways to Stop Worrying
Try these tips and tricks to Hakuna Matata your worries away!
1. Have a Singalong
Put your headphones on and have a good old singalong!
Choose a song you’re word perfect on and really belt it out.
Or perhaps choose a song where you get the words wrong now and again – it makes your mind focus that little bit more!
If you notice mid-song that you’ve stopped singing, and started to worry again, simply get back to the lyrics!
This isn’t just a clever (and rather fun!) way of distracting the mind.
When people sing, endorphins and oxytocin are released which lowers stress and anxiety levels.
*Tip: Get the housework done too! Pull out the hoover and channel Mrs Doubtfire vibes.
2. Write it Out
Grab pen and paper and write your worries down.
Your worries will go round and round in circles if you just think about them.
Journalling uses a different area of your brain – it helps you process your thoughts and understand them more clearly.
You might even find an answer to your worries, or a way to move forward.
Putting your worries on paper can also make them feel a little less daunting.
*Tip: I’m a bit old-school so I like a proper journal, but Notes on your Iphone works just as well.
3. Really Think about Something Positive
You’ve probably heard this one before: focus on positive thoughts!
I would add: focus on positive thoughts that really make you think!
Being grateful for a sunny day – that’s a happy thought! But it might not be long before your mind starts worrying again…
On the other hand, choosing where to go on holiday this summer – also a happy thought! But it holds your attention for longer – because it gets you really thinking. It engages the brain.
*Tip: Listen to music on your commute? Try a podcast instead – it gives you (healthy!) food for thought.
4. Shake It Off
We hold our bodies in a particular way when we worry. Hunched shoulders, rounded back, head down.
Shake it off. And I mean that quite literally. Really shake your body.
If you’re at home, maybe even have a boogie!
If you’re at work, at least shrug your shoulders and roll your neck.
Then once you’ve shaken it off, change your posture. Shoulders down, chest out, head high.
The way you hold yourself affects your emotions by sending messages to your brain. You can fool your brain by changing your body language. You can trick it out of worrying!
*Tip: Shake It Off is actually a great tune for having that boogie at home. Thanks Taylor!
5. Do Something that requires Coordination
All exercise is great for lowering stress and anxiety levels.
But if you really want to stop your mind from worrying, do something that makes you think about where your arms and legs are going!
That’s not running on the treadmill! Your mind can easily run and worry at the same time.
Instead try yoga. Or dancing. Or a circuits class that has a trainer yelling “burpees!” one minute and “star jumps!” the next.
Your mind will be so focused on what your body’s doing that it becomes impossible for it to worry at the same time.
*Tip: If you haven’t got time for a workout, grab a couple of apples and try juggling. Same sort of idea!
P.s. Let me know how you get on! Do you have a favourite?