These days, the fast pace of adult life is more hectic than ever. There’s no time off to slow down, reflect, and realize that half the stuff you obsess and stress over isn’t worth your time. Life’s way too short to spend half your time stressed out on a caffeine high and the other half unwinding with Netflix. Find a balance that means less freaking out over every little thing and more time spent feeling yourself. Basically, learn how to let things go – your life will be better for it.
- It likely won’t matter a year – or even a week – from now. If what you’re stressing over is something you won’t even remember this time next week, you need to take a step back and a chill pill (it’s okay if said chill pill is a Xanax). While that’s easier said than done, always ask yourself whether or not your current obsession actually matters in the long run. If you’re freaking out about a date you definitely don’t want to go on or an assignment that’s due sometime soon, you probably won’t actually care what the outcome is once it’s over with. Get ‘er done, toss back a cocktail, and then move right along.
- You care more about how you look than anyone does. Way harsh, but true. Unless you’re an A-list celebrity or fashion blogger, your friends probably won’t remember your outfit the next day. There are so many times when girls spend literally hours freaking out about finding the perfect outfit or getting their makeup just right, but it never matters that much in reality. You know how you spend a ton of time worrying about yourself? That’s what everyone else is doing, too.
- There’s more to you than who you’re dating (or not dating, for that matter). Maybe it’s wedding season and you’re searching for the perfect date. Perhaps your parents (and grandparents and distant cousins) won’t stop asking you when you’re going to settle down. It might just be that you’re seriously searching for someone to watch Netflix with. Whatever your dating emergency is, it’s more than easy to spend hours obsessing over why you can’t find the right guy. Unfortunately, no matter how many hours you spend dreaming him up, he won’t automatically appear mid-Netflix binge. If you’re the most lonely, there’s always a dog.
- Obsessing over a guy you like won’t make him feel the same. There will always be that one guy who drives you up the wall. Whether it’s the one you hooked up with for just a hot minute but haven’t been able to get out of your head, or the guy you dated for a hundred years who has the ability to drive you completely insane, he’s the worst. The absolute worst, except that when you’re with him, when you’re convinced he’s the best. Move on, because if he won’t be your boyfriend, he’s not worth your time (or drunk texts).
- Your drunk texts are (probably) not as horrific as you think. If you haven’t left your party girl ways behind, it’s entirely possible that you’re still sending out a drunk text or two after a particularly intense night out. Even if you sent a long lost Tinder date an incoherent booty call, it’s probably not the worst thing you’ve ever done. They might lol at it for a hot second, but that doesn’t mean that they’ll think about it for as long as you do.
- Your job isn’t worth bringing home. Maybe you didn’t get the promotion you were dying for and convinced you had in the bag. You were forced to spend the year playing second fiddle to your supervisor, a ball-busting bore you secretly despised. Stop sipping your Starbucks and trade it in for a shot of vodka (or tequila if you need something stronger) and move on. You’ll realize the stress you’re feeling is (almost) entirely made up, and not quite worth it. Once you’ve left the office, put it behind you for real, instead of secretly checking all of the emails rolling in throughout the evening.
- Life’s way too short to be so stressed. If you’re super obsessed with all of the above and feel it getting out of control, just remember that at the end of the day, you’ll regret spending the best years of your life being a complete basketcase over the tiniest things. Go out with your girls, plan a dinner date, and remember that life’s way too short to be anxious over everything.
