I remind myself to stop and take the time to enjoy the little things. You’d be amazed at how much you miss when stress and anxiety take over. When they’re in charge it’s as though nothing but your problems exist. The truth is often that little, outside your life, has changed except your perspective. The beauty is still there, you’ve just forgotten how to see it.
If it’s particularly bad, I’ll get away for an afternoon, someplace quiet, and just explore. It also helps to try and let go of stress a little every day, even when we’re not particularly anxious. Watching the sun set on the deck with a cigar, a little jazz, and a good scotch always works for me.
Finally, every now and then, whether anxious or not remind yourself that your worries are just that, worries. They don’t help you and often just cloud your thinking. Concentrate on why you’re worried. Ask yourself: “Can I do anything at all about it?” If so, then do so! If not, then it’s beyond your control – you can only manage how you deal with the results… and you can deal with them. In either case, worrying does nothing but cause more worry and where’s the point in that?