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Tuesday, December 05, 2006
What Are You Worried About?
lifehack.org: "We all worry. The same wonderful tools our brain uses to imagine new innovations and solve complex problems, also has a habit of looking for trouble - even when it may not exist."
10 comments:
Anonymous
said...
Very astute to post this just as we are all worrying about finals. I come from a family of worriers - at least the women. The suggestions are all viable, I guess, but I think the best thing to do is: a) recognize that worrying about something that might happen is wasting time and enery b) take actions whenever possible to eleviate worry - the article mentions just doing something about it
My mom (who I only started listening to in the past few years) often says it is a waste to worry - you always have choices.
In the end, everything works out. So why waste precious energy worrying?
Side note: the commenter does not profess to practice what she preaches.
It's true we all worry, and it can be hard to get over the worries. The thing is that if we are worrying about something, there's usually a reason. Worrying is a good indication that you should take care of what you are worrying about. Procrastinating worrying about the project you are procrastinating doesn't help you at all. Sometimes it's good to worry.
Joe, you just procrastinate, you don't worry. I hate that overwhelming feel you get from time to time when everything is due at the same time, but really the article is right in that you just have to do it and get over it. If you messed up somewhere and didn't give yourself enough time, then oh well, either bust your ass to get the stuff done, or if that isn't possible then take the necessary steps to surrender, but regardless you have to do something and the longer your freak out, the worse off you are.
I 'd like to say "worry" is native at times. It's about gene. To write a list of worry is a good idea, then turn it to an Action plan. Also with such a list, maybe we can realize some worry is unnecessary.
While agree with most of this articles suggestions (which are more or less common sense), I think the windshield wiper idea is ridiculous. I know when I'm worried, particularly if I'm especially worried, the last thing I'm gonna want to do it take a puase in my life to watch some make believe wipers slide all the junk i have to out of my brain. Because let's face it, if i have a choice between jumping in and doing something about my problems (the best options), sitting in a corner just to think about how much life sucks, or visualizing some silly wipers, I'm definately going to pick one of the first to options--even though the second is completely negative and nonproductive, I imagine it would still feel better than brain wipers.
Is it ok to quote a 70's band? Probably not, but here I go anyway.
"Don't let the sound of your own wheels drive you crazy" - The Eagles...from the song "Take it Easy"
Yikes, sorry about that. But there is validity and depth to that statement.
Worrying about what you can't control is pointless and easy to sidestep (no windshield wipers needed). Having an anxiety about the future, that is natural. Try to understand the difference and act accordingly. And if all else fails - smoek a joint and listen to the Eagles...again I am sorry.
As I was told by a man of true genius at a production meeting last night: "You can only do what you are doing right now."
When multiple tasks are piled up, it is most useful for me to concentrate on what I'm working on at the time. If I worry about all the other crap that needs to get done, my time is much less productive and I might never get around to doing those other thing.
So to relieve stress and increase productivity, I prioritize and concentrate on single tasks (while ignoring the rest of them)
I, too, am a windshield wiper. I work to literally visualize clearing my head of an issue that I know cannot be resolved through immediate worry. And then, later on, I work to enage my body in activies like exercise and cooking which allow for my mind to focus on someothing wholly different, like the problems I earlier compartmentalized. The stress of them is often removed as I can literally see my accomplishments - the lifting of a weight, doing three additional laps in a pool, or a beautifully crafted and satisfying meal shared with friends.
As an advocator for psychology and the ways of thinking like a clinician, some might say that this article is a nice way of thinking about it, but no thanks. People who overworry have underlying reasons why they worry. If they don't deal with those reasons, they will worry for all times. And I'm not just talking about a simple test. There are other reasons, like the implications of what will happen after the test or who will get angry. They will worry til the ends of the earth if they don't deal with those issues, not matter how much time they set aside to worry.
Daivd Holcomb suggested I read a book about stress and getting things done, I asked him if he could then also give the the five extra hours to read it. I kinda feel that was about this article. Good ideas, buut when you are in stress up to your ears, it is hard to try to do new things to help the stress. I will take note of this and start on it for next semester.
10 comments:
Very astute to post this just as we are all worrying about finals. I come from a family of worriers - at least the women. The suggestions are all viable, I guess, but I think the best thing to do is:
a) recognize that worrying about something that might happen is wasting time and enery
b) take actions whenever possible to eleviate worry - the article mentions just doing something about it
My mom (who I only started listening to in the past few years) often says it is a waste to worry - you always have choices.
In the end, everything works out. So why waste precious energy worrying?
Side note: the commenter does not profess to practice what she preaches.
It's true we all worry, and it can be hard to get over the worries. The thing is that if we are worrying about something, there's usually a reason. Worrying is a good indication that you should take care of what you are worrying about. Procrastinating worrying about the project you are procrastinating doesn't help you at all. Sometimes it's good to worry.
-A Siebert
Joe, you just procrastinate, you don't worry. I hate that overwhelming feel you get from time to time when everything is due at the same time, but really the article is right in that you just have to do it and get over it. If you messed up somewhere and didn't give yourself enough time, then oh well, either bust your ass to get the stuff done, or if that isn't possible then take the necessary steps to surrender, but regardless you have to do something and the longer your freak out, the worse off you are.
I 'd like to say "worry" is native at times. It's about gene.
To write a list of worry is a good idea, then turn it to an Action plan. Also with such a list, maybe we can realize some worry is unnecessary.
While agree with most of this articles suggestions (which are more or less common sense), I think the windshield wiper idea is ridiculous. I know when I'm worried, particularly if I'm especially worried, the last thing I'm gonna want to do it take a puase in my life to watch some make believe wipers slide all the junk i have to out of my brain. Because let's face it, if i have a choice between jumping in and doing something about my problems (the best options), sitting in a corner just to think about how much life sucks, or visualizing some silly wipers, I'm definately going to pick one of the first to options--even though the second is completely negative and nonproductive, I imagine it would still feel better than brain wipers.
-samantha englender
Is it ok to quote a 70's band? Probably not, but here I go anyway.
"Don't let the sound of your own wheels drive you crazy" - The Eagles...from the song "Take it Easy"
Yikes, sorry about that. But there is validity and depth to that statement.
Worrying about what you can't control is pointless and easy to sidestep (no windshield wipers needed). Having an anxiety about the future, that is natural. Try to understand the difference and act accordingly. And if all else fails - smoek a joint and listen to the Eagles...again I am sorry.
-J Bogush
As I was told by a man of true genius at a production meeting last night:
"You can only do what you are doing right now."
When multiple tasks are piled up, it is most useful for me to concentrate on what I'm working on at the time. If I worry about all the other crap that needs to get done, my time is much less productive and I might never get around to doing those other thing.
So to relieve stress and increase productivity, I prioritize and concentrate on single tasks (while ignoring the rest of them)
I, too, am a windshield wiper. I work to literally visualize clearing my head of an issue that I know cannot be resolved through immediate worry. And then, later on, I work to enage my body in activies like exercise and cooking which allow for my mind to focus on someothing wholly different, like the problems I earlier compartmentalized. The stress of them is often removed as I can literally see my accomplishments - the lifting of a weight, doing three additional laps in a pool, or a beautifully crafted and satisfying meal shared with friends.
As an advocator for psychology and the ways of thinking like a clinician, some might say that this article is a nice way of thinking about it, but no thanks. People who overworry have underlying reasons why they worry. If they don't deal with those reasons, they will worry for all times. And I'm not just talking about a simple test. There are other reasons, like the implications of what will happen after the test or who will get angry. They will worry til the ends of the earth if they don't deal with those issues, not matter how much time they set aside to worry.
Daivd Holcomb suggested I read a book about stress and getting things done, I asked him if he could then also give the the five extra hours to read it. I kinda feel that was about this article. Good ideas, buut when you are in stress up to your ears, it is hard to try to do new things to help the stress. I will take note of this and start on it for next semester.
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