‘ACTING ON MY WORRIES STOPS THEM CAUSING ME STRESS’

‘I think of myself as a productive worrier. Once I get that sense of unease, I immediately try to identify the cause, then break down the problem to see whether I can do anything about it. Usually, it leads to action. For example, if I’ve had a weekend full of big purchases, boozy dinners and catch-up drinks, my worries about the consequences of my reckless spending will force me to rein myself in. The same logic applies to my body. I know I won’t deal well with gaining several extra pounds so, if my social schedule dictates that I’ll be eating out and drinking a lot over the coming month, worrying about those extra calories turning into something tangible will motivate me to book in extra spin classes. I also suspect my apprehensive tendencies have helped in my career, because they mean I always over-prepare. As soon as I know I have a job interview, I write out every single question I might be asked and try to think of a brief answer. This puts my mind at ease because it gives me a broad understanding of the topic – and enough time to develop my responses to a standard I’m confident with. Ultimately, I’ll go into the interview with steadier nerves because I’m safe in the knowledge that I’ve done everything in my power to get the result I want.’