KATHRYN PINKHAM
NHS insomnia specialist, founder of The Insomnia Clinic (theinsomniaclinic.co.uk)
“JOURNALLING your worries is a really good way to release the tension. Anxiety feeds on uncertainty and lack of control, but there are healthy ways you can
‘control’ your worry.
“Every day, I allocate a 20-minute window to write down everything
I’m worried about. This is a great way of telling your mind that you’re not ignoring your worries, however silly you may think they are, but rather you’re acknowledging them at a time that is suitable for you.
“I always use a pen and paper, as I think this is a much more effective way to ‘empty’ your mind than using a digital device. Once my journalling time is up, I move on, and do something I enjoy. If any thoughts or worries pop up, I simply make a note of them and then allow myself to think about them in detail during my allocated time later on. “I’d urge everyone feeling mentally overloaded with changes to lockdown rules to try this; it’ll teach your mind to be more proactive about when you worry, so worries are not constantly intruding.”