Generation Freaked Out: 4 Ways For Millennials To Become Happy

Acknowledge that there is no reason to worry

One night, I woke up from my restless sleep. My thoughts were sinking my body into the depth of my anxiety.

I cried endlessly for being nervous, yet I didn’t do anything to make things easier. There was a voice in my head saying, “everything will be alright.”

I ignored to listen to it.

I refused to set healthy mental habits to get over my constant worry.

I believed that anxiety was inherent as though an organ inside my body. Little did I know that we often give the power to stress to control us.

Anxiety causes us to ignore the thinking part of our brains. Anxiety puts us into inertness while our feelings are running wild. And, anxiety is more common among millennials than any other generation.

Millennials are freaking out.

Admittedly, we suffer from unemployment, excessive student debt, mortgages, and uncertainty.

But, sadly, we also sabotage our happiness. We withhold ourselves from a peaceful mindset, whereas a few subtle changes may turn us into the happiest generation.

1. Seek out the change.

It is difficult to change your life and leave your comfort zone while you live in an uncertain world.

It is scary to start relationships while there are lots of toxic people out there.

It is challenging to dream big while you are saddled with your student loans.

But, leaving your comfort zone doesn’t necessarily require hard physical actions. A few subtle shifts in your daily life can bring you more radical outcomes than any traditional ‘leave-your-comfort-zone’ decisions.

• Begin your day with a nutritious breakfast.
• Keep journaling instead of scrolling down on Instagram in the mornings.
• Work out before checking your emails.
• Clean your desk after you finish working.
• Don’t take sleep for granted.

Embracing these small habits will have a significant impact on your life. And, you will finally learn not to sweat the stress:

“Rule number one is, don’t sweat the small stuff. Rule number two is, it’s all small stuff.” — Robert Elliot

2. Clear your mind and get moving.

“Worry is not about the possible troubles of the future; for if they come, you are but anticipating and adding to their weight; and if they do not come, your worry is useless; and in either case, it is weak and in vain, and a distrust of God’s providence.” — Hugh Blair

We often worry about the things we can’t change or the scenarios that are yet to come.

We create vicious circles out of our anxious thoughts. And overthinking about them ties our hands, by chaining us to the imaginary circles.

You can’t control what is happening. But, you can affect the consequences by taking actions.

Turn towards nature in anxious situations. Look at the sky, observe the shifting clouds, listen to the singing birds and rustling leaves.

You will realize that you are a part of nature and worrying about material stuff is vain.

Adopting this mindset will enable you to see events more clearly and positively. Rather than overthinking, get moving. You may be surprised how easy to come up with a solution.

As Shunmyō Masuno says, we “plant the seeds of our own anxiety,” and it is such a waste of time while life is, considerably, too short.

3. Stop comparing yourself with others.

Though we all have heard about this advice at least once, we keep ignoring it. But, the comparisons merely create tensions in our brain, which undermines our success.

As millennials, we have a problem with getting a job. Let this sit there for a moment. But, comparing ourselves with our parents will put us pressure while life is difficult enough to handle.

You should accept that the rules have changed. Economic and social circumstances are more different than twenty years ago.

Since you can’t control the present circumstances, comparing yourself with previous generations becomes merely futile.

To get over it, give up the trivial attachments to your “ideal persons.” It is just you on this journey.

Become your ideal self.

You’ve come so far, and you’re doing a fantastic job. Persevere what you are doing.

4. Be grateful for the most ordinary.

“Be thankful for having made it through another day.” — Shunmyō Masuno

Being grateful for tangible things is easy. You can be thankful for your exam result, your promotion, your car, your house, and so on.

But, life won’t bring you job promotions every day. And, you’ll quickly get bored of your car since it can’t nourish your soul forever.

As millennials, we encounter a “content overload” in our daily lives. We are overwhelmed with the “never-ending news cycle or endlessly navigating social media.”

In these circumstances, it becomes easier to forget the beauty found in the natural order of things.

If you don’t appreciate the ordinary stuff, you may be doomed to unhappiness. Appreciating the outstanding can bring you instant pleasure, but the greatest happiness lays in the unremarkable.

Smell the morning air when you wake up. Prepare your coffee with love. Seek out the sunset. Don’t search for happiness far away; it is right before your eyes.

In the words of Edmond Mbiaka;

“If you woke up this morning in good health, then you have a great reason to be very grateful and thankful. Life is always better when you celebrate every moment of it with the spirit of gratitude.”

In a nutshell,

Being a millennial can become overwhelming in an uncertain world full of constant information. But, adopting a few subtle changes can provide you with a healthy mindset to navigate in your life.

The important thing is to turn these changes into habits. As brilliant Matt Lillywhite states;

“You need to remember that meaningful changes in life never happen overnight. (…) When you can make a little bit of progress each day, the power of compound interest will create a much better life over time.”

Changing your mindset can feel challenging at first. But, you will maintain a happier life when you set up your habits and routines.

If it works for me, it will work for you.

Worrying is futile. Get out of your “what-if worry loop.” There is happiness to be found before your eyes.