If you clicked on this blog post you’re probably feeling stressed right now. So you’re wandering around the internet trying to figure out how you can get rid of stress and get on with your life.
I hate to break it to you, but you can’t get rid of stress.
Wait! Don’t leave yet, there is good news.
You can’t get rid of all stress, but you can dump that feeling of an elephant sitting on your chest while you try to get everything done, be amazing at it, eat the right foods, get enough sleep and generally be the best possible version of yourself.
Ditching that feeling is so simple, Disney even wrote a song about it.
Seriously, studies have found that stress is only a problem if we think it is. (Check out this TED talk for details) What does that mean? It means that stressing out about being stressed is worse than feeling stressed in the first place.
So if you’re studying for a big test, practicing a presentation you have to give in front of way too many people, or getting ready for your first day at a new school or job, you will be stressed. And that’s okay.
Accept your stress. Look right at it and say “Hello stress, I was expecting you.”
Your heart is pounding, your hands are sweating, you have that weird I-might-hurl feeling in your stomach. Cool. That’s normal.
Breathe. Smile. Accept that you feel the way you do. You can’t get rid of stress. So there’s no point in stressing about it.
Let it motivate you to study harder, practice more, or stand up straighter and look people in the eye. But don’t let it crush you.
Stress is a feeling. You can’t control it, but you can control how you react to it.
You’ve got this.
If your stress prevents you from living your life. If you struggle to go outside, meet people, or do other tasks that seem like basic parts of life, you might be dealing with an anxiety issue. The best way to overcome that kind of persistent overwhelming stress is to talk to a professional. Find one here.