Did you forget to turn off the lights? Weren't you supposed to call your friend? What ever happened to your high-school yearbook? For many of us, worrying just seems like a natural part of our daily lives. But experts warn that too much worrying can affect your emotional and physical health.

According to the National Mental Health Association, you may be worrying excessively if you find yourself losing sleep, feeling overly agitated, or having more than your share of headaches or backaches. To ease your concerns and reduce your anxiety, follow these 10 easy tips:

1. Just say no. It's easy to overextend yourself. The next time you get called to action, explain that while you would like to help, you don't have the time.


2. Don't be a hero. Delegate some of your responsibilities. Decide which tasks are the least important or which would be best to pass on to someone else. That way, you can let someone else have the gloryand the anxiety.


3. Take a break. Take 20 minutes a day to just sit and breathe. Listen to soothing music, or sit in a quiet place. If meditation isn't for you, find another calming activity. Pick up crafting or a physical activity, like running. Stay away from competitive sports or anything that could add more stress to your day.


4. Write it down. Writing down your worries in statements that start with I am worried about helps you pinpoint the source of your anxiety, according to Mind, a U.K. organization dedicated to mental-health education. What if statements cause more stress, while I am worried statements force you to decide whether your fear is rational.


5. Take it one step at a time. Keep your mind on the task at hand, and try not to think about the things that you have to do later.


6. Sharing is caring. Confide in a friend. Expressing your worries aloud can help, and other people may think of solutions that you couldn't.


7. Face your fear. Worries are essentially fears, according to Mind. The best way to manage them is to define your fears and then face them head-on.


8. Like mom said, eat your breakfast. Eating right can reduce the effects of stress. Poor eating habits, including having too much caffeine and sugar, can lead to feeling jittery and agitated, according to Mind. It also makes it difficult to concentrate on the task at hand.


9. Timing is everything. Don't procrastinate. Leave enough time to get to the airport even if you were to encounter a traffic detour. Print out your proposal a week early so that when the printer is out of ink, you have time to go to the store.


10. Kick the habit. Though some people feel like a cigarette calms them down, the need to have that cigarette can cause stress and affect your mood. This is true for other addictions as well.