Since I can remember, the first week of school always overwhelmed me. I would come home from the first day and explain to my mom that there was no way I would make it through this upcoming year; the teachers seemed tough, the workload seemed unbearable, and my ability to succeed seemed minuscule.
Thankfully, my mom knew what needed to be said in order to calm my anxieties and instilled in me five amazing things to remember during the beginning of any school year that truly helped me overcome my fear of the future and eliminate the pressures I was plaguing myself with. Below I've included these five notions/tips/reminders with hopes it may help those who have trouble welcoming change and the unknown that the future poses.
Take a deep breath.
I know this sounds cliche, but taking a couple of deep breaths during stressful situations truly calms the body. I can go into the science behind it, but basically taking deep breaths is connected to the emotional states of anxiety and calmness through a neural pathway; by taking a couple of deep breaths, you will be physically relaxing the body, thus allowing you to feel more relaxed mentally and emotionally.
Remind yourself that everyone is probably just as nervous as you.
I have always struggled with the idea that other people may be just as nervous or anxious on the first day of school like me. Being reminded that I'm not alone in my worries allows me to embrace my emotions and accept the situation for what it is rather than what my fears have painted it out to be.
Write everything down that needs to be accomplished.
I know it may sound silly, but writing down everything that you need to do allows the mind to process all of the tasks and organize them in a way that makes them seem more doable. There is no greater feeling than crossing off a task that you accomplished (even if it was minuscule in effort), and an even more amazing feeling when the list is completely finished.
Embrace the possibilities a new year can bring.
Sometimes the best way to overcome fear is to embrace whatever is causing you to feel scared. Nothing can be accomplished when you're too scared to move forward, so it's in your best interest to put on your bravest face and face things head-on.
Have faith in your abilities.
I have always had trouble acknowledging my positive attributes; as I've gotten older, I have made a conscious effort to praise my accomplishments and believe in my ability to overcome anything that stands in my way. There is no way you can succeed when you only thing you'll fail; have faith in yourself because if you don't, who will?
