Samantha Yorke is an assistant director and success coach for the Office of Undergraduate Student Success at NSU. She earned her bachelor of science degree in psychology from the University of Central Florida and her master of science degree in higher education from Florida State University. Samantha is a proud Floridian with a passion for empowering others.
Worrying: We all do it. Our lives are filled with challenges and obstacles that make our hearts race a little faster than we would like sometimes. The thing is, worrying means we care — it is healthy to be a bit anxious. Of course, it is important to make sure this stress is manageable on a day-to-day basis.
Here are some tips to calm some of those unwanted nerves:
Accept that you are anxious
Avoiding your feelings can only make matters more stressful. Accept that you are anxious and more importantly, that it is okay to be anxious. Being able to accept the anxious feelings you have is the first step in finding your confidence again. There are many assessments you can take to evaluate how stressed or anxious you truly are or what type of stress you are currently feeling. Some of these assessments are the Life Pod Balance Assessment and Priority Management Assessment, both of which are available in the Office of Student Success.
Use positive self-talk
When you wake up in the morning, look in the mirror. You may be hesitant to try this at first, but compliment yourself: “Bob, you are incredible and you are going to conquer the world today.” This can make a difference in your mindset for the remainder of the day and squash those nerves of yours. “Attitude is everything” and “mind over matter” may serve as cliché quotes, but they are true.
Realize that your brain is playing a trick on you
Worrying is betting against yourself. You know how much you are capable of, and you know there is a light at the end of the worry tunnel — you just have to get through it first. Reflect on what it is that you are actually worried about and how probable or improbable that idea is. Realize that what you are worrying about is an outcome that may never even happen… ever.
Focus on the now
You aren’t able to plan or predict the future, but you are able to manipulate the present. Focus on what’s in front of you for the day. It is more manageable, practical and a lot less stressful. Focusing on the present may assist you in taking control of future situations. For example, if you are worried about a final exam, stop worrying about a grade that does not yet exist. Instead, use the present time to study, which will influence that grade later on.
Use your resources
The Henderson Student Counseling Center provides tips and tools to help you stay as stress-free as possible, including professional staff to discuss concerns or questions with. Check out their website at nova.edu/healthcare/studentcounseling or call them at 954-424-6911.
Breathe
Take three deep breaths every single day. This will assist the circulation in your body and calm you down quite a bit. You can even try it right now.
The next time you feel tense or overwhelmed over various components of your life, remember that you have all of the control to change your mindset. You also have a great deal of resources and friendly faculty, staff and peers to support you along your NSU journey.
