We’re so wrapped up in it all. Whether it’s the immense amount of work thrown at us, the stress of checking off the next thing on our to-do list, or our phones consuming us of our undivided attention. But honestly, that's the least of it, as college students we're constantly worrying about what our future job will be, what city we'll be living in, and how we will financially support ourselves. We're in the stage of our lives where we so desperately need to find ourselves, and we get lost in our thoughts trying to do so. Thousands of thoughts cross my mind every day, each one containing different content about an array of entities, all of which, are aimed to benefit or enrich an element of my life. Maybe it's my grades, my health, my friends, family, or for the person I meet next. But, how many of those thoughts are aimed at benefitting me? Me, solely as an individual. I regret to say it, but probably not many. That’s because we’re so caught up in the events occurring around us that we forget to take care of ourselves to the best of our abilities. We forget to take care of ourselves, mentally and physically.
Our minds are always engaged in this race going full speed. We never think twice to slow down, take a step back, and relax. That's because we’re already thinking about something else, meticulously planning the next thing we’re going to say or do. But, why do we never focus on now? The very present moment that we don't realize how blessed we are to be in. That’s because we take it for granted. And we’re all infatuated with the solidarity that comes with knowing because knowing is powerful enough to curtail our fears. These fears are natural and I don't blame you or myself for having them. However, what I do blame myself for is letting my mind slip into a state of anxiety stemmed from not having control over certain situations. We all have experienced anxiety in one form or another. It can be triggered by any thought and will strike at any given moment. That’s the scariest part of it all, apart from not knowing.
Well, I'm here to tell you that the next time you feel anxious or overwhelmed with life, give yourself a break. Your mind and body will thank you for it. This can be a mental or physical break. It can fall into a time range, from three minutes to an hour. For this shorter respite, put on your favorite song. Let the sounds of the instruments, meaning of the lyrics, and texture of the singer's voice take hold of your thoughts. May this serve you as an escape, a temporary one at that, but it will shift your mentality into a place of relaxation because you will be hearing the voice of someone else and not your own. And for the longer respite, go workout and give your body the physical release it needs. Accompanying that will be a release of endorphins, which is scientifically proven to reduce your perception of pain, and be associated with a positive feeling throughout your entire body. This along with a healthy diet and a good night's rest is the essence of taking care of yourself, mentally and physically. Set aside a time in your long, hectic day to partake in this beautiful process of care-taking. It will benefit you immensely in ways you never thought imaginable.
