It's the beginning of a new school year, which means one thing: Stress. That first week back at high school, college, graduate school, or whatever level of learning you're at can be quite a shock after the lazy days of summer. When you've been lying around reading, tanning, and sleeping for the past couple months, suddenly having three hours of homework seven days a week can make your brain want to scream. And even if you have been working throughout your vacation, 17 credit hours, plus extracurriculars, plus assignments, can be a whole new dragon to slay.
It can be incredibly easy to get wrapped up in the craziness and feel totally overwhelmed when everything is being thrown at you, and everyone handles stress differently. Some people people burst into tears, others explode in anger, some people even clean. There is one thing that can help anyone and everyone deal with stress, however, and it's actually incredibly simple: breathing. For real, breathing. I know it sounds silly, that something as easy as taking in and pushing out air can help. But breathing is something that we often take for granted because we do it so often that we tend to forget we're doing it. And when you barely have time to care of basic necessities like eating and sleeping, a nice deep breath to clear your head can often be forgotten about.
So stop reading this article and take just a moment to close your eyes and focus your energy on the thoughts in your head. Picture anything that you're worried about, anything that is making your brain hurt. Take all your anxieties about the upcoming semester, whether it's getting all your projects done on time, passing your exams, balancing sports and schoolwork, job interviews, or even just making it through the long week without punching something, and put them at the forefront of your brain. Then, take a long, slow breath in from deep in your diaphragm (that's the area below your belly!), and as you're exhaling, push out all that negativity in your head. Say goodbye to anger, frustration, sadness, confusion, and any other stressful emotions that may be swirling about in your noggin.
Now picture yourself kicking booty this semester. See yourself excelling in your classes, snagging the lead role in the play, winning the state championship, or whatever else tickles your fancy. Let all those good thoughts take the place of the scary ones, and trust that you will succeed, no matter what obstacles you may come across. Now open your eyes. I hope that helped you, at least a little bit. Breathing, although it can't solve all your problems, can definitely make them seem smaller and less significant. Remember to do it once in a while, and you will soon realize that you can conquer anything that comes your way.
*Inspired by Doctor Michael Ellison.*
