Breaking Up With Worry
I used to think that if I rehearsed every possible disaster, I’d be immune to disappointment, I’d have the perfect answer, or better yet, I could fix it! But the truth? Worry never loved me back. This post is my invitation for you to break up with worry.
Worry has a sneaky way of convincing us it’s useful.
Research shows that the average American spends 2 hours and 18 minutes per day caught in worrisome thoughts.
When asked, 62% of Gen Zs and Millennials say they feel anxious most of the time.
Gen Zs (born roughly between 1997 and 2012. That means in 2025, they’re between 13 and 28 years old, navigating everything from high school drama to workplace burnout with a side of TikTok.
Millennials (also known as Generation Y) were born between 1981 and 1996. That means they are between 29 and 44 years old, navigating everything from parenting apps, preparing for the future, and a promotion at work. 10% of young adults now schedule “worry time” into their daily routines as a coping strategy.
So, our children and grandchildren are worrying, but how much do we, the older adults, worry?
Someone born in 1940–1945 would be considered part of the Silent Generation, while those born 1946–1963 would be Baby Boomers? Studies suggest older adults tend to worry less frequently than younger generations. Older adults may not label their thoughts as “worry” but rather as planning, concern, or duty—which makes it harder to quantify.
Mature adults worry about physical health and mobility, staying productive as they age, finances in retirement, and, we worry about our children and grandchildren, who are worrying as well!
How can we stop this worry epidemic?
We can end it right here. Check this out.
What the Research Shows About Worry
91% of worries never come true. In a Penn State study, participants tracked their concerns for 30 days. Nearly all turned out to be false alarms.
Of the 9% that did happen, about a third were better than expected.
I’m not good at math, but I was able to figure this out: That means that only 94% of what we worry about never actually happens.
I was a worrier. You can ask any one of my four children, and they will tell you that I worry too much. And let me say that aging and having grandchildren do not make you worry less. However, looking at the numbers above, my children are worried too. Okay, all that being said, over the past two years, I have made a conscious effort to stop worrying, and I have been successful.
I rehearse the numbers above and tell myself, “It’s just not going to happen.”
I remind myself that I have a 94% chance that what I am worrying about will never happen, so I am going to make an assertive decision to stop worrying and start living. (or go back to sleep, if it’s in the middle of the night).
It is that simple. Tell yourself to stop worrying. Take control and tell your mind to stop!
Please allow me to repeat from above: Research shows that the average American spends 2 hours and 18 minutes per day caught in worrisome thoughts.
Tell your mind to stop worrying and fill those 2 hours and 18 minutes with a new activity.
Here’s a mix of cozy and creative activities to help you redirect that mental energy:
Listen to music
Dance around the room
Volunteer or help someone else: Worry shrinks when empathy expands.
Turn off or begin to eliminate the television shows that are causing some of your anxiety.
Watch something uplifting on TV
Listen to a fun podcast
Read a book
Take a walk
Call someone who makes you laugh
Snuggle a pet or borrow one
SIMPLY DO SOMETHING ELSE!
When worry starts doing cartwheels in your brain, the best antidote is action—especially the kind that nudges your mind into a different groove. Besides, you have a 94% chance that it won’t happen, so forget about it and dance.