Houston, We Have Anxiety: Tips to Achieve Escape Velocity

In rapidly evolving times, it can be hard not to worry about what the future holds. We’re all at different points in our lives – some of us are older adults who made the brave choice to come back to college, others went from high school to college without a break – but there is one thing that binds us: worry. 

Why does everything seem so distant and yet too close? 

Will you ever make your future less a dream and more a reality? 

Why does the past feel so heavy when it’s already come and gone? 

There are thousands of worries that set your teeth on edge and make your head feel shattered with migraines. It can be hard to get out of the echo chamber that is your mind when these worries keep on multiplying with no clear way out. 

The fact is: the future will come when it comes, and it will happen so steadily that you won’t even notice. Like the seasons changing, it’s inevitable. Due dates will pass; classes will be sat through; interviews will be aced or thrown out the window; but in the end, time will keep going on. The best you can do? Start building that future by living in your present, one steppingstone at a time. 

1. Planet of Overwhelm 

Oftentimes, anxiety can come from an unclear path or too many paths to take. Without a clear guide to where to go, it all becomes convoluted. A few ways to untangle those threads of worries can come from scheduling assignments and responsibilities in a planner, setting reminders on apps like Google Calendar, or sticky notes in obvious places as a visual aid. You can only worry about what’s in your control, the “now” of time, and that includes what you already know. 

2. The Mythical Support System 

Sometimes support systems aren’t feasible for everyone. Sometimes all you have is you, and that’s okay. And really? Whose opinion matters more about you than your own? This is your life to live – no one else’s. Prioritize some “you” time, whether that’s in the shape of Netflix binge-watching or it comes in a basket of self-care items: face masks, snacks, whatever doesn’t require you to get out of bed when the world already feels too heavy. There are millions of cells in your body working overtime to care for you. Throw them a bone every once in a while, especially if it’s a face mask to tell your collagen, “You’re worth fighting for.” 

3. The Bad Exes and Sleep Constellation 

You never know when it’ll come and when it’ll go. If you don’t have a good relationship with them, then all you’ll get is a 3 AM call that reels you back into the cycle. Some nights you may go to bed cynically thinking it will never come, and that makes you lie awake wondering if that’s a popcorn ceiling above your head or asbestos. Truth is? Any rest is good rest. Just like a bad ex, it can be as evasive as it is seductive. Whether all you get is a few hours of closed eyes or a snippet of a nap between classes, just rest. Eight hours of sleep isn’t feasible for everyone. Let it become a motto: “any rest is good rest”. 

Most of all, try to remember: you’ve got a universe of cells inside your body, worshipping the deity that you are. This life is yours to lead, every star and all.