You know you should call your mom, visit your neighbor, offer to help out at your child’s school — you have a constant mental checklist. However much you do, though, there always seems to be more to worry about.

The solution: Be a picky person. “Stop agreeing to do so much, and be more protective of your time and energy,” says Al Siebert, Ph.D., author of The Resiliency Advantage. “The more commitments you make, the less likely it is that you’ll do any of them well. The person who exhausts herself helping others is destined to feel like an unappreciated martyr.”

So choose a few things that are important to you. Spend your energy and time as judiciously as you do your money, and you’ll find that you — and the people around you — are a whole lot happier.

Aging Anxiety

Like it or not, we all get older. Worrying about getting wrinkles, becoming a burden to our kids or just time ticking by can quickly send us spiraling into depression. What good does it do you to panic, feel nostalgic for the days of your youth or be fearful of future health issues?

The solution: Do something that challenges you every day. Anxiety naturally ebbs as we confront our fears and step outside our comfort zone. Make a list of things you’ve always wanted to try (from learning to knit, to running in a 5K race). Start with one of the easier ones, and work your way up to those that are harder. Each goal you hit will help you realize what amazing things you are capable of and make you feel energized.

Soon you’ll see that the best way to go is to stop wasting time worrying and start enjoying every moment you have with friends and family.

Money Meltdowns

We all agonize about this all-important subject, even when we aren’t strapped for cash. Research has shown that as people earn more, their happiness increases only slightly for a short period of time, then finds its old level again. In other words, the adage is right: Money really doesn’t buy happiness.

The solution: Realize that money is just a tool for living, not something to be hoarded — or wasted, says Boyce Watkins, Ph.D., a professor of finance at Syracuse University who specializes in financial psychology. “Ninety percent of how you manage money is psychological. People overspend for the same reasons they overeat — not because they need something, but because of external cues that drive their behavior.” (How many of us have said “I was at the mall, so I figured I might as well buy a new pair of shoes”?)

Next time you feel the urge to purchase something you don’t really need, take a minute mentally to check off a few of the things you find most valuable in life that are free (hugs from your kids, chats with galpals, walks in the park). Once you realize how abundantly valuable your life portfolio actually is, you’ll feel less inclined to search for comfort on the sale rack.