I hate to say it, but summer is nearly over! Besides worrying about getting a few more wears out of your swimsuit and enjoying the last few weeks of hot weather, getting back to school is also on every student’s mind. For me, it started as a quiet, nagging thought that could easily be pushed away, but soon the thought of going back to class became a dark cloud looming over my head.

To be completely honest, I have recently been struggling with anxiety. It has become a real problem that can keep me from growth and happiness when I let it, and I know I’m not alone. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the U.S., affecting 40 million adults in the United States age 18 and older. 

This is not something I like to admit or advertise, but I know that anxiety only has control over me when I let it. Many other students are struggling with the exact same issue, so I wanted to share a few personal tips and tricks to beat anxiety and so you can live your most productive life.

*Disclaimer: I am not a licensed therapist or psychologist. This article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a physician or qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a mental illness or medical condition.

1. PRAY

As a Christian, prayer and getting into the Word of God is the number one way to deal with anxiety and any other issue I’m facing. When I’m feeling anxious about heading back to school I look at Scripture that speaks specifically to the issue of worry and read it out loud, praying it over myself. Try to memorize these verses to pray when you are feeling overwhelmed with anxiety.

Philippians 4:6-7

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

In this passage, Paul writes while he is in prison. He says, “Do not be anxious about anything.” Easier said than done, right? When we listen to the lies of the enemy and allow fear to get into our hearts, we experience anxiety. But, Paul gives us three clear steps to battling this: prayer, petition, and thanksgiving.

Say this scripture during your prayers and make a conscious effort to give your worries over to God and give thanks for all He has given to you. When we are worrying we must look back into our lives where He has been faithful and good to us. This reminds us that we need to trust in Him because He is God and He is in control. Plus, being grateful erases negativity like a charm.

Praying this and saying it out loud may not work like a magic pill, immediately erasing all doubt and anxiety in a snap, but when you make a habit to be thankful for what you have (even if you’re not Christian) you will notice a difference in how you feel and how you treat others. 

Psalm 34:4

“I sought the Lord, and he answered me;

    he delivered me from all my fears.”

It is a biblical principle that when we seek God, He shows Himself. When we knock, He opens the door. When we ask God for help and seek his peace, He will give it to us. Next time you feel like you can’t deal with life’s issues, read this verse and take a moment out of your day to seek God and ask Him for peace that is infinitely deeper and stronger than worldly comforts.

2. GET ORGANIZED

This one is a must for curbing back to school anxiety. A lot of times, I feel anxious and don’t even know why. Then I look around my room and realize part of the reason I’m anxious is that my room looks like Chernobyl, I have 13,208,474 tabs open, and I haven’t washed my sheets in 30 years.

It can make it harder to get things accomplished when your place is a mess. When you feel anxious about school, or anything else, make time to clean up your space, and organize your things. Then, get ahead of the problem by making it a habit to hang up your clothes after you wear them and put things in their place after you use them. This will prevent future anxiety and take cleaning up from a whole-weekend task to a five-minutes-before-bed task.

Start getting stuff ready for classes. Go get school supplies now instead of the day before your first class. Sometimes the act of throwing all of your stuff into a backpack and setting it by your door can make you feel more prepared and less anxious.

3. STOP PUTTING IT OFF

That thing - you know the one. The thing that you’re anxious about that you have been avoiding for forever, thinking about, and letting ruin your relaxation time! Whatever that thing is, just do it. Stop letting it loom over you and take one, just one step toward doing it. It will make you feel better. I can think of plenty of things that are making me anxious that I could fix by just taking a step toward accomplishing them. Heck, one of those things was writing this article. And look at me now!

I always tell myself that I’ll do it later, or that I have time and should totally play Sims 4 and eat a cookie right now instead of doing it. But then the whole time I’m sitting there “relaxing” I’m actually miserable and can’t even enjoy myself because I’m thinking about that thing that I really should be doing instead.

Listen, you don’t have to finish it all right now. Just do some of it. Write an outline for that paper. Order that one book for school. Get back to Amazon about returning that weird hat you got instead of your t-shirt. It sounds so silly, but this is the cause for 99% of my anxieties. 

Just. Do. It! (Nike™)

4. TAKE A STEP BACK

Sometimes, when I’m feeling alone and overwhelmed I want to do nothing but curl up into a hole in the ground and disappear. I feel like I’m not good enough, strong enough, or smart enough to accomplish things. 

One way to fight these feelings is to get a healthy dose of perspective. That F you made will not determine your failure or success in life. That difficult break-up you’re going through will not determine whether or not you find your soulmate. Your choice of major will not lock you into a cage for the rest of your life. These are thoughts that can be very hard to break free from, but taking a step back to see the big picture can help. 

Talk to someone about how you’re feeling. Even if it feels stupid to say out loud, other people can shed light onto the situation and show you an angle you didn’t consider. Nothing is the end of the world, even if it feels like it.

Write down your feelings and record what you’ve been going through. One day you will look back and be encouraged by how far you have come. Plus, it is soothing to get your thoughts on paper and see them in the light of day.

Look at things in your life that make your anxiety worse. Who do you follow on social media that continues to make you feel upset? Are there people in your life that drain you and ignore your boundaries? What shows and music are you watching that make you feel discouraged and don’t line up with God’s word? Take a moment and evaluate your spiritual diet.

Philippians 4:8 says, “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” Even if you aren’t a Christian, we all should be cautious with whom and to what we give our time. 

Anxiety is not something we ever want to have to deal with, but we can take proactive steps to make it less common in our lives. Just know that everyone from the Queen of England to the garbage man experiences stress and anxiety. You are not alone and you can get through this.