How To: Squash Pre-Graduation Anxiety

Right now, countless college seniors are coming to terms with the fact that graduation is a mere 3 to 4 weeks away. In the midst of the end-of-semester avalanche of work, it’s easy to feel stressed–especially if you don’t have a detailed plan for your post-grad life.  While many Binghamton collegiettes look forward to the impressive grad schools and careers waiting for them come the end of the semester, you may be among the many that are still a bit unsure what comes next. 

While I’m all for the occasional existential crisis, it’s neither healthy nor productive to lose sleep stressing about the future. If you’re feeling frazzled in the  fleeting glory of your senior spring, remember to breathe and remind yourself that it’s okay to not have it all figured out just yet. And when you reach your breaking point, try one of these  helpful de-stressors–and relax instead of freaking out!

Go for a Run

In the wise words of Elle Woods, “Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. Happy people just don’t shoot their husbands. They just don’t.” Happy people also don’t start crying because they are afraid of the next phase in life. A high intensity workout like running is a great way rid your mind of frustrations. Hitting the gym or going for a run around your neighborhood can help you manage your stress in a rational way.

Read “A New Earth” by Eckhart Tolle

This spiritual book will help you understand how your mind and thinking can sabotage your happiness. It explains the concept of the ego, a force within each of us that thrives on negativity and anxiousness, creating a detrimental victim mentality. Above all, the book emphasizes living in the present moment as the true key to happiness and drives home the notion that everything in the universe happens for a reason.

Call Up Your Best Friend

When you are stressed, don’t isolate yourself with your chaotic thoughts. You’ll likely be amazed at how quickly you feel your mood brightening just by having a short conversation with a friend about what’s bothering you. Don’t shut the world out when you find yourself fretting about the future. Friends are there to lean on, and chances are they have the same concerns about what comes next.

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