Written by Susan Barrett, Administrative Coordinator for the Center for Entrepreneurship

There are certain times when we all face stress and pressure in our lives. Sometimes it’s a regular daily hassle, such as having the alarm go off for an early class when you feel like you’ve just fallen asleep. But other times the pressures of life, school, and work seem to be overwhelming and it’s difficult to know how we’ll manage to get it all done. You’re not alone! This is a common experience shared by people in all stages of life and in the midst of many different circumstances. Here are some ideas to help you as you navigate your years as a student…and beyond.

  1. Take a break now and then to clear your mind and refresh your body. Go on a short walk by yourself or sit in a quiet spot (silence your phone and don’t look at it!). Enjoy the beauty of nature, notice small things that you’d normally not see amid your busyness, breathe the fresh air, and close your eyes for a moment and just rest. If you can do this for just 15 minutes now and then, it will help your mind to relax so that you can focus more readily on the task at hand.
  2. Keep a good list of your priorities, and constantly revise it to reflect what you’ve already accomplished, and what you still need to do. Sometimes the act of crossing out something on a list gives a great sense of satisfaction and motivates you to move on the next thing. Mark Twain said, “The secret of getting ahead is getting started. The secret of getting started is breaking your complex overwhelming tasks into small manageable tasks, and then starting on the first one.”
  3. Talk with someone who is a good listener, who has more experience and wisdom than you do, and who can help you sort out your priorities and weed out the things that are obstacles to completing the main things you need to do. Sometimes just talking with someone can help because they will likely have insights and ideas that you might not have thought about. If there’s something you don’t understand, find someone who can help you to figure it out. Don’t be embarrassed to ask questions.
  4. Pay attention to what you are telling yourself. Self-talk can be helpful, or it can be destructive. No one else will hear what you’re telling yourself, so talk away with the most encouraging and motivating words and phrases you can think of. “I am making progress!” “I’m closer to getting these things done than I was yesterday!” “Even though it’s difficult, I will keep going!” “I will not give up, even when I feel like quitting!”
  5. Often when you feel overwhelmed by many things that you must do, it helps to organize and neaten up your space. When you work or live in messy and unorganized surroundings, it makes it difficult to think clearly and to organize your thoughts.

Feelings of being overwhelmed can be good motivators to help you to get back on track, to work harder on the things that are the most important, and to perhaps reevaluate your to-do list. Don’t give up! You will experience these feelings on and off throughout your entire lifetime. Learn now how to see this as a challenge, and to keep working toward your goal. Muhammad Ali once said, “I hated every minute of training, but I said, ‘Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.’”

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