Don’t Worry, Be Productive: 10 Pithys to Ponder

statue-leftI can’t credit the unknown author for these Ten Ways to Worry Less and Accomplish More (paraphrased), but they do make sense.

  1. Think of problems as opportunities, not difficulties. (It’s all about framing.)
  2. Do your best with a situation, then forget about it and move on. (Easy to say, hard to do. Takes practice.)
  3. Stay active to avoid dwelling on anything too long. (If the mind’s active, it’s more difficult to worry.)
  4. Remember that armchair generals don’t win battles, but they do have nervous breakdowns. (Don’t worry about things you don’t control.)
  5. Stop erecting castles in the air. (Permanence is sexy.)
  6. Do it now, do it now. (Don’t procrastinate, but do engage in open thinking time and idea-fertilizing time.)
  7. Stay off the pity-pot. (Don’t dump your woes and anxieties on other people.)
  8. Get up as soon as you wake up. (Staying in bed uses as much nervous energy in living your day in advance as the real thing.)
  9. Take things one at a time. (Rushing erodes poise and self-confidence, contribuing to fear and anxiety, and multi-tasking is a myth.)
  10. Eat the elephant one bite at a time. (Break things into manageable bits, simple action steps, or achievable objectives; focus on the present step before moving on to the next one.)
  11. Bonus:  Be ready to recognize opportunity. (It may not be dressed as you expect, or arrive when you expect it.)
