Turn on the news tonight and I guarantee that none of what you hear will be remotely cheerful. Murder, war, famine, rain and selfies pretty much sum up the topics the newsreader is likely to cover. With this constant shitstorm of events out of our control, it’s no surprise that people are constantly worrying.

People worry about everything! The degree of worry I witness on a daily basis troubles me. In fact, it saddens me to see so many people wasting precious time worrying about rubbish that is never going to happen. Worry seems to have morphed from the presence of practical and valid concerns to a preoccupation with every possible threat, danger, or unpleasant outcome.

Let me give you an example – the example that actually prompted me to write this piece. Earlier this year, a client of mine told me she was concerned about a new strain of super-flu coming to the UK. She had actually lost sleep over the possibility of getting infected. After making her do twenty press ups for such poor banter, I reminded her of two things. First, that is not going to happen; second, if it did, there is not a lot she could do about it.

This preoccupation with events outside of your circle of influence can lead to poor health, both physical and mental. Worrying increases stress which can increase blood pressure, cause higher levels of stomach acid, anxiety, muscle tension,  headaches, and much more.

Oddly, it seems that the things people fret over the most are those that they have no control over. What’s more, most of these things have very little consequence even if they do happen. Who cares if it rains at your BBQ! Cross bridges when you come to them.

I try to live by these three rules to stop wasting my own time worrying about things.

  • Never worry about something that probably won’t happen. For example, worrying about your kids getting into trouble on a night out. Before I hear a chorus of cries that this impossible, lying in bed awake until they get home is not helping anyone. It is also increasing release of the stress hormone cortisol and reducing your ability to burn fat. They will be fine. Go to sleep.
  • Never worry about or something that you cannot control, like the weather, the new super-flu strain or the possibility of nuclear war! Don’t even bother wasting your time thinking about it.
  • Never worry about something that has already happened. This is the hardest of the three but also the most crippling. If you make a mistake (which you will, many more times in the future) learn from it, find a way to forgive yourself then move on!

I know this is much easier said than done and sometimes you just can’t help yourself, but you owe it to yourself to try. Living in the now is a much more enjoyable and fulfilling way to spend your time. Stop trying to control everything, shit happens.

Only concern yourself with things inside your circle of influence. You may think I am being a touch naïve, but think about it: what good has worrying about anything ever done you?

I know this is not news to any of you but sometimes we all just need reminding to stop worrying and start enjoying our lives. If you really want to spend some energy going nowhere, come into the gym and jump on a treadmill!