You read and re-read comments, posts and texts trying to decipher between the lines. It pains you to think that somebody spoke poorly or wrote nasty things about you. You consistently wonder, “I hope they like me … I wonder what they think of me”. It might be easy for your mind to take you down dark scenarios.
Do you portray a happy image to others while hiding your true feelings? When you act happy despite your internal misery, it is disheartening to your soul. Putting on a constant act will suck the life out of you. Here are some tips to help you increase your happiness.
“I wish I would have done better … Did I make so-and-so mad … what if I let others down?” Too often, questions like these haunt as you reflect on previous choices. You want to be your best, but it’s tough as the self-doubt consumes you. Self-doubt comes from a lack of self-respect. What can you do to gain self-respect, and how does it make you better?
It is difficult enough to be a productive, thriving engineering student – even when all is well and life goes according to plan. The last thing you need is a global pandemic like COVID-19 to add to your list of worries. When life is unfair, how are you expected to stay on course and keep moving forward?
Our society has been scrambling to adjust to stay-at-home mandates thanks to COVID-19. Your classes have moved to an online format. Spring and summer plans have been canceled. And you’re trying to move forward with your life despite a future that seems murky. You have a plate full of risk and uncertainty. What would you say if I asked, “Are you okay?”
It is that time of year. Exams are upon you, final reports/presentations are due, and you find yourself lost in end of semester overwhelm. There are some things you can do to mitigate this pressure. Learn how to remove speculation and increase your self-accountability.
It is your human tendency to want to compare yourself to others. It’s tempting to think the other person has a better car, better phone, a better life, etc (see Post #34). When life is good and when all is well, we often like comparing ourselves to others. But sometimes life is tough, such as when we find ourselves in the midst of a COVID-19 circumstance. In this case, and in many others, comparisons can result in your confidence taking a nosedive.
Most of us are living in unprecedented times in the U.S. as campuses shut down to avoid COVID-19. Students find themselves scrambling to make major, unplanned adjustments. How do you manage your life during COVID-19? I offer three simple and basic ways you can help yourself.
You know exactly who you are, and you know why you say and do the things you do, correct? Maybe? As a busy student, the answer is undoubtedly “No.” If you think experienced adults are in tune with who they are, think again. Learn what it means to be in tune with yourself and how it can empower your life.
Many engineering students live with anxiety, tension and stress overwhelm. I addressed a similar topic in Post #09, offering suggestions to help with chronic worry. Here, I define stress and offer tips to help you understand one of the ways to manage it.