It is not uncommon to feel anxious, overwhelmed, or nervous all the time, especially in your early 20s. There is so much happening at once. You may feel stressed because of school, work, friendships, relationships, or simply from trying to figure out what you want your life to look like. Maybe you have assignments due at midnight, but you worked all day and still want to make time to see your friends. Maybe you have a full week ahead and already feel overwhelmed just thinking about everything you must do.
Feeling stressed and anxious is completely normal, but constantly living in that state can be exhausting. While we cannot always control everything that happens around us, we can control how we respond to it. Protecting your peace does not mean ignoring your responsibilities or avoiding stressful situations. Sometimes, it can simply mean giving yourself the time and space to slow down and take care of yourself. Here are some of my tips and tricks for protecting your peace as best as you can.
- Make a schedule
Typically, when I know I am going to have a very busy day or week, I like to plan out my days in my calendar. You can also use a journal, notebook, planner, or even the notes app on your phone. I find that writing out everything I need to get done and planning when I am going to do it helps me follow a routine, making everything feel much more manageable.
You don’t necessarily need to schedule every minute of your day. Even just having a general idea of what you want to accomplish can make a huge difference. Sometimes, seeing everything written down makes a busy week feel a lot less overwhelming.
- Take some time to meditate in the morning
When you first wake up in the morning, it can be very tempting to immediately grab your phone and start checking your notifications. Instead of starting your day by taking in everyone else’s thoughts, give yourself a few minutes to be with your own.
Sit up in your bed, walk over to your desk or vanity, or find somewhere comfortable to sit. Tune out any outside noise and give yourself five minutes without your phone. Think about the things you are grateful for, what you are looking forward to, or even just how you want to feel throughout the day. Starting your morning with a few peaceful minutes can help you feel more grounded before everything else begins.
- Spend time away from your phone
Between Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat and texts, there is always something to look at or respond to. While social media is fun, being constantly available can be exhausting.
Try this: put your phone on “Do Not Disturb” for an hour before bed. During that time, read a book or do something that will not overstimulate you. You may be surprised by how quieter your mind feels when you are not constantly checking what everyone else is up to. You do not need to feel guilty for not responding immediately. Not every text requires an instant response, and not every notification needs your attention the second it appears.
- Stop comparing your life to everyone else’s
When you’re in college, it can be so easy to look at someone else’s life and feel like you are falling behind. It can feel stressful thinking that everyone around you is moving ahead. One of your friends may be doing an internship, another can be traveling, someone is in a serious relationship and someone already seems to have their entire career figured out. However, you are only seeing a small part of their lives. Social media makes it easy to compare your everyday life to someone else’s highlight reel. Your timeline does not have to look like anyone else’s. You are allowed to take your time, change your mind, and figure things out as you go.
- Do not feel guilty about taking a break
There is a difference between being lazy and genuinely needing to rest. Sometimes, you have been working, studying, socializing and constantly doing something for everyone else. Your body is asking you to slow down.
Taking a nap, having a lazy Sunday, watching a movie, or spending a night in does not mean you are falling behind. It is important to take a break sometimes. Taking care of your physical and emotional well-being can be the most productive thing you can do for yourself if you permit yourself to stop for a little while.
At the end of the day, protecting your peace does not always mean that you will never feel anxious or stressed again. Life will always have busy weeks, unexpected obstacles, deadlines and situations that are out of your control. The goal is not to eliminate stress, but to learn how to create moments of peace for yourself even when life feels chaotic.
Your 20s are already filled with enough pressure to figure everything out. You do not need to make your life harder by constantly putting yourself last. Take a step back, breathe, make time for yourself and remember that it is okay to slow down.
Sometimes, protecting your peace is as simple as choosing yourself.