3 simple ways to stop worrying about work

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, “What shall we eat?” or “What shall we drink?” or “What shall we wear?” For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6:25–34)

Jesus invites us to live and work without worry—not just because it’s not logical (“Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?”) but because it’s not theological. Worry doesn’t make sense in light of God’s faithfulness.

Of course, “do not worry” is easier said than done. We worry all the time—especially about work. So how can we follow Jesus’s teaching today? Here are three super simple, super powerful practices to help you worry less.

#1: “Look at the birds of the air”—literally.

Worry thrives in abstraction. Jesus calls us to confront it with action. So right now, look out the window or step outside. Spot a bird or flower. Take 60 seconds to observe it. Then thank God that just as he cares for them, he promises to care for you, whom he says is “much more valuable.”

#2: Take your worries to Almighty Intelligence before Artificial Intelligence.

When I’m worried about something at work, I’m tempted to go to ChatGPT before God. While AI can be an incredibly useful tool through which God gives us wisdom, I am disciplining myself to go to I AM before AI, because Scripture commands me to do so. Philippians 4:6 says, “Do not be anxious about anything…present your requests to God.” In other words, get your worries out of your head and into God’s hands in prayer.

#3: Commit to a rhythm of fasting from sources of worry.

The truth is, we inflict worry upon ourselves by staying constantly connected to sources of worry like email, text messages, Slack, social media, and news. If you’re prone to worry, I beg you to commit to a rhythm of fasting from these sources. 

I fast weekly—from Saturday night to Sunday night, my devices stay off. And daily—from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., I’m typically offline. Those rhythms might sound impossible to you. But I promise you can carve out some tech-free, worry-free time most days. If you want help, I explain how in Chapters 3 and 5 of Redeeming Your Time.

Worry can’t add an hour to your life, but these practices can help you redeem the hours God has given you. Give one a shot today for God’s glory and your peace.