There have been many times where I find myself doing 50 things at once or bad things just keep happening and the stress piles on top of me.
In these situations, it's easy to lose your faith. It's easy to say "It'll never get better," or "My life is horrible." It's in these moments when you can figure out how strong you are.
For me, it's easy for me to blame my issues with stress on anxiety. I do struggle with it but it does not define me. I find myself doodling my name over and over again when the stress triggers my anxious ways. When I can catch it, I slow down and think of what my surroundings are or what I can focus on. Once my mind is engaged in these things, I breathe. Not just in and out. I really breathe. I feel it in my belly and then my chest and then I let it all out.
Breathing for me is so key.
A yoga instructor once said to a class I was in: "Breathe in all the good, then breathe out all of the stale air that has been sitting there." To me, this meant breathe out the stress, breathe out the anxiety, breathe out the problems that don't really matter.
Every situation is temporary.
Having 10 assignments to do or 3 tests to study for; it's all temporary. You'll do your best, you'll get through it and you will move on. No matter the outcome, good or bad, life will move on and you will pay attention to other things. So when you find yourself caught up in a busy school week or a never-ending work shift, breathe and remember it's all temporary and it's all going to be okay.
One helpful thing I have learned about is meditation.
Deep breaths could be your meditation. Repeating daily mantras could be your meditation. For me, it's conscious breathing. Thinking about all of the good and pushing out all of the bad. And sometimes when I need a little help, I use an app called Headspace. You take 3-10 minutes, close your eyes and really meditate. A coach comes along and guides you. By the time you open up your eyes, you are in absolute peace.
It's easy to get caught up in the bad but not letting this define you and breaking out of it shows that you don't just take the easy way out.
Work hard, be positive and destress every once and awhile.
