A worry strategy

Worry has been a useful emotion for humans.

Worries about disease, injury, predators, enemies, starvation, famine, and the elements have always motivated us to take measures of prevention, as they did for our hominid ancestors.

Some amount of worry should be expected from a life. Brief and proportional, it serves a purpose and does not cause us harm. To completely shield our minds against it seems maladaptive.

The problem is when worry doesn't stop.

When we worry about finances... what to wear... getting out of the house on time... the news... meeting a deadline... our impression on a stranger... catching the flu... choosing the right restaurant for dinner... and on and on.

Or when we worry with no opportunity for prevention or resolution available, as in conditions of inequity (no examples required).

Prolonged or excessive worry does cause serious harm, and our efforts to just wish it away are probably going to fail, given its utility.

What each of us needs then is a strategy - a well crafted series of tactics intended to mitigate worry moment to moment, day to day.

A solid strategy starts with an overarching theme. Mine is "Faith in and closeness to Nature", but I can think of other social, religious, spiritual, artistic/creative, or practical possibilities.

Then a series of effective tactics, such as:

• Daily ceremonies that renew feelings of gratitude and support

• Puttering

• Regular social interaction

• Some practical guardrails (i.e. unsubscribe from worry-inducing algorithms, keep only 3-5 choices of outfit in your closet) and guidelines (i.e. scheduling only 1-2 tasks in a day)

• Formal meditation

• Forest bathing

• Practicing an art form

• Physical activity

The idea is not to terminate worry, but to put regular time and weight restrictions on it using multiple, tailored distractions and rituals to restore peace.

As important as any financial, dietary, or exercise strategy. Arguably more so.