Worrying is not a controllable emotion. When one thing (or multiple things) constantly nags at you while you're trying to sleep at night, or tries to creep its way into your brain during lecture, it can truly tear you down. Maybe your worry is directed towards your major, your future, or even a test you just took that you are iffy about. We all experience it, but some of us have a tendency to do it way more than others. To the girl who constantly worries about a boy, school, a friendship, the future, the past, anything, take these words to heart.
Be patient with yourself.
I can't tell you how many times someone has just said, "just don't worry about it." I challenge those people to jump inside my brain and turn it off. It's impossible to just switch it off. Don't push yourself too hard, even if others pressure you to do so. The truth is, no one else knows what you are going through. Only you know what you're feeling inside. Letting go of your worry will not just happen overnight. It is an ongoing process that takes time, diligence, and patience with yourself. But don't give up, it is possible.
Take care of yourself.
You know those tips your mom gave you while you were trying to shove them out of your freshman dorm on move-in day? Eat your veggies, get enough sleep, drink lots of water, exercise. You might have brushed them off, but doing these things on a regular basis can do wonders for your health. Perhaps the biggest one is sleep. Running on no sleep can heighten your anxiety to extreme levels and can be detrimental to your overall health. Also, the gym is a wonderful place take out all of your troubles and get a rocking bod. So utilize it a couple times per week!
Talk to someone.
Talk to a counselor, your best friend, your significant other, your roommate, your cat, anyone who will listen. Often times, our worries seem a lot worse in our heads. Verbalizing it may help you realize that you're overthinking things, or your worry isn't as bad as you make it out to be. Getting a second opinion from someone (excluding a meow from your cat) can really help put things into perspective. Talking it out really does do wonders.
You are doing the best that you can.
Don't sell yourself short. You are doing the best you can with the situation you have been given. Try not to beat yourself up for little things like getting a bad grade, or doing something embarrassing at a party. If you are putting your best foot forward and giving it your all, then you have nothing to feel guilty about. In fact, write this on a sticky note, put it in your planner or on your bathroom mirror. Remind yourself every time you've been pushed to your limits with worrying that you are doing the best that you can.
Your talents surpass your failures.
Failure clouds your perception of yourself. You then only see yourself as your failed chemistry test or your failed relationship. It important to remember that your talents, or who you are, are way more important than your flaws. If you are constantly worrying about failure, or things that you have done wrong in the past, try to remember everything that you have done right. You are an extraordinary person with many talents, not the sum of your failures.
"Don't worry about the world coming to an end today. It is already tomorrow in Australia." -- Charles M. Schulz
