Whether it concerns university, high school, work or your personal life, everybody deals with failure at some point in their life. The first time I failed (that made me feel like a failure) was in my first year in university. Higher Mathematics 2. I did not study enough, I know that now, but at the time it crushed me. It made me feel dumb and unworthy to keep on studying electrical engineering. I even had nightmares. Two months later I retook the test and passed this time. Failure is hard, but there are tricks to ease the feeling of desperation that comes with it.
Put it into perspective
Okay. I know. There is nothing worse when you’re feeling like a failure and someone tells you to ‘just let it go’ or ‘see things positively’. Seriously? Don’t you think I try? Instead of ‘just letting it go’, try putting the failure into perspective. I’m not saying you should make excuses for yourself, but nobody is perfect and other people (even smart people) failed before you and others will fail after you. Just think about everything you’ve accomplished so far! It is most likely literally not the end of the world. Stop putting you under so much pressure. So you failed an exam or didn’t get the job you wanted? As much it annoys me to admit it: You can’t do anything about it now. You need to move forward. Retake the exam or find another dream job.
Make a game plan
Now that you have accepted that it’s not as bad as it initially felt like, you need to make a game plan to move on. There is another way to achieve what you want, you just need to find it and work for it. The structures of a plan will make you feel productive and in control. Think about it! What are the steps you need to take? How much time do you have? What kind of resources do you need? Handle it like a work project and don’t forget to reward yourself for every accomplishment. Read here to find out how to make the perfect study plan.
Journal
Journaling is very popular nowadays. Bullet journaling, junk journaling, travel journaling, bible journaling, one sentence or five minutes… you name it! One of the reasons for its popularity is its therapeutic effects. It can calm you and help you sort your mind. Exactly what you need right now. So go ahead and just write. Write about your feelings, your fears and your dreams. Don’t overthink it, it’s just for you.
Plan a pamper day
One of my favorite YouTubers, Hannah Ashton, dedicated an entire video to sharing her tips on turning around a bad day. My absolute fave: Pamper yourself. Make it a point to treat yourself. It doesn’t have to be an entire day, it may just be soaking in a bubble bath for an hour or watching one or two episodes of a show you love. If you are a planning geek, plan every minute. Do what you love. You deserve it from time to time. Self-care is not selfish as long as you don’t stop caring for others
Socialize
My go-to recipe for dealing with a bad day and overthinking everything is to socialize. Call your bestie. Plan an event with your friends. Have a girls night, Sunday-brunch with the girls, or just visit your family. Socializing will get your mind off of your troubles and better your mood. A career is not everything in life, be thankful for the people in your life.
What do you think of my tips? Do you have something to add? Feel free to leave a comment below or write me an email: kayleighbonnchronicles@gmail.com
Other posts in the study series:
How to create a perfect study plan
All stock images are from Pexels.
This post is based solely on my personal experiences and has no scientific background. Please try out for yourself, what works for you. In case you are experiencing depression, please seek out professional help.