Setting Yourself Up For Success

When I first found out we would be attending school from home, my first thought was, "wow... I don't even have a desk." Naturally, I went to HomeGoods and got to work. Within a week, I had the perfect space set up for myself (pictured below).

It's hard for people with anxiety to feel like you're always ready to tackle whatever comes your way. My advice is to make a space for yourself filled with things you love that you think will help you perform better.

Here are some things that I thought would make me feel confident + ready to do well in school this semester.

1. My salt lamp. I love it so much. Not only because of the beautiful light, but salt lamps also emit negative ions into the air, supposedly helping to boost your mood + clear your mind. (I think it works, but maybe it's the placebo effect)

2. Candles! I try to find candles with eucalyptus in them because it will help you calm down when you breathe in the smell + deep breathing is a super important way to reduce anxiety when you're stressed. This brings me to number 3...

3. My monthly eucalyptus subscription. Yes, it looks super cute on my desk. But when you spray it with water, you can breathe in the lovely, minty smell of fresh eucalyptus. Pro tip: put it in your shower if you ever want a relaxing shower!

4. Pictures of loved ones. It sounds lame, but sometimes when I'm stressed, I look up at those pictures of my boyfriend, my mom, my grandma, and my great-grandma, + it reminds me that I am loved. Sometimes when we are stressed, it's easy to feel lonely + like you don't have anyone. Those are just a couple of little reminders that I have people I can turn to when I need them.

5. Crystals. Some people think they bring good energy into your space. I believe this, but I know some people don't. At least they look cute!

6. My weekly calendar. Sometimes anxiety is caused by feeling overwhelmed by all of the things you have to do. Writing out a detailed schedule for yourself at the beginning of the week helps you stay organized while also reducing the chance of you forgetting something super important!

7. Gum. Some studies say that mint gum can help you focus, + I am a believer for sure. Whenever I find myself losing interest in a zoom class + worrying about other things, I pop in a piece of gum! Sometimes it helps; sometimes it doesn't.

8. (Not pictured) but I have a super furry stool that I sit on at my desk. Having a stool forces me to sit up straight so that I don't slump + stay alert.

The most important thing right now is to make sure that you have a space that you can separate just for work. Doing work in your bed sounds like a good idea, but trust me, it's not. Having a nice desk has helped me a lot. I know for me, a vast symptom of my anxiety is fatigue. When this happens, it's hard for me to get out of bed. Something as simple as having my laptop across my room on my desk forces me to get out of bed + get my day started. For those of you who struggle with that also, get your day started with a cup of green tea! I like the Yogi brand a lot. The tea is excellent, and it even comes with little inspirational messages. The one I have today says, "Live by your inner knowledge and strength."

The bottom line is this: just because we are stuck inside does not mean you can't have space for yourself to get stuff done in. Just the simple act of me setting up this desk eased a lot of anxiety about school for me. Of course, there are so many other things that can bring about anxiety, but this is just one small thing you can do to set yourself up for success.

Stay tuned for more tips about how to deal with anxiety during a pandemic.

Yours truly,

Alex