According to a study by the University of Surrey in the
United Kingdom, worrying can have long-term chronic
health consequences, including cardiovascular disease. 

So how do you stop worrying?  

Here are three  actions you can take to take your mind
off of your troubles: 

1. Change your bedtime

Researchers at Binghamton University in New York
found that people who go to bed very late and sleep
for short amounts of time are more overwhelmed with
negative thoughts than those who keep more regular
sleeping hours.  

They tend to worry about the future and dwell over past
events, and they have a higher risk of anxiety, depression,
post-traumatic stress disorder and obsessive-compulsive
disorder. 

“Making sure that sleep is obtained during the right time
of day may be an inexpensive fix  for individuals who are
bothered by intrusive thoughts,” said Jacob Nota, one
of the study’s researchers. 

2. Smell a grapefruit

Breathing in certain aromas can help reduce stress and help you stop worrying unnecessarily.  

In a study at James Cancer Hospital in Columbus, Ohio,
researchers tested the effect of pleasant-smelling essential
oils by diffusing them in the central nurses’ station.  

Oncology nurses, who frequently suffer from work-related
stress, compassion fatigue, and burnout, reported significant
improvements in tension, worry, and demands over the
course of the study. 

One of the essential oils tested was grapefruit, which is
refreshing and revitalizing, and helped boost the body’s
feelings of energy and happiness. 

3. Eat chocolate

While sweets can cause you to have a sugar high
and crash, researchers have found that a little
chocolate can be beneficial for worriers.  

According to a study published in the Journal
of Proteome Research, dark chocolate can
help calm your nerves.  

Participants who ate one and a half ounces of
dark chocolate a day for two weeks had reduced
levels of stress hormones. 

Take Action

Try one or more of these three strategies when you
next find yourself worrying over things, especially those out of your control. 

At Resilient Minds we help our clients grow their resilience
so they can perform at high levels on the really important
things in all aspects of their lives. 

Warm regards 

Jamie Ford

 “Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow, it empties  
today of its strength.”

––Corrie ten Boom