Don’t panic!

Every.  Single.  Time.  I’ve just finished a nice, long vacation, and then the reality sets in that I’m going back to work the next day.  You know you feel it, too.  Whatever day your “Sunday” might be, that feeling that begins in the pit of your stomach, that makes you not want to leave your bed, and makes you wonder how you ever got along in the real world, is unmistakable.

You try your best to be prepared for the first workday of the week, but a myriad of thoughts run through your head:

“Do I have clean clothes for tomorrow?”

“Is there anything I need to do, (reports, grading, phone calls) before I go into work tomorrow?”

“Will I get enough sleep, or should I stop by Starbucks on my way to work? Will I have time?”

Monday comes and goes, and you notice that everything went fairly well.  So what the hell was I so anxious about the night before?  And even IF there were some kinks in my day, did it merit all the nervousness?  I love my job.  I love the people that I work with.  So, what’s the problem then?  Where is the stress coming from?

According to writer Taylor Clark, author Poise Under Pressure, Serenity Under Stress, and the Brave New Science of Fear and Cool, it’s basically because we rely on social media too much, and we don’t receive enough human interaction.  He talks about this a lot in his article “It’s Not the Job Market,” and goes on to say that because we’ve lost a sense of community in the American culture, people often feel alone and therefore anxious.

I’ve read some psychologists go as far as saying that our anxiety levels have increased due to our problems being less tangible than what our ancestors had to deal with.  I don’t know about you, but I’m perfectly fine not having to fight a lion for my dinner tonight.

As a teacher, my stress comes from making sure I’m prepared for my students the next day.  It also comes from making sure I’m making enough time for myself (which I’m very bad at).

Wherever your stress comes from, don’t let it get the best of you.  I’ve been pretty good at talking myself out of any panic attack by asking myself the following question:  “What’s the worst that could happen?”

If this doesn’t work for you, here’s a good TED talk you can listen to for more advise.

Thanks for reading!