LYNX LIFE LIBRARY

Being a college student is a time of change, exploration, and sometimes, a little bit of chaos. Between balancing coursework, social commitments, and just life in general, it can often feel like you’re being pulled in a hundred different directions. Even more so when external events — whether personal, social, or political — start to feel overwhelming, it’s easy to wonder how much of it is even in your control.

One of the most empowering lessons you can learn is the difference between what’s in your control and what’s not. Understanding this distinction isn’t just about managing stress — it’s about recognizing where you have power in a world that sometimes feels unpredictable and beyond your reach.

What You Can Control

Let’s start with what you can control. While you can’t always dictate how the world operates, you do have the ability to shape certain aspects of your life. Understanding these areas can help you feel more grounded, even when everything else feels uncertain.

1. Your Actions and Reactions

Arguably, the most significant thing you can control is how you choose to act and react to what’s happening around you. No matter how much the world outside seems to spiral, how you handle the situations you face is entirely up to you.

For example, if you’re dealing with a difficult professor or a tough exam, you may not be able to change those circumstances. But you can control how you approach them. You can decide whether to see challenges as setbacks or opportunities to grow. Your reactions, whether you rise to the occasion or let frustration take over, are in your hands.

While it’s easier said than done, practicing emotional awareness, and choosing thoughtful responses rather than reacting impulsively, can drastically improve how you navigate both academic and personal struggles.

2. Time Management and Organization

Let’s be real: a lot of adulting is about managing your time. Whether you’re handling a mountain of assignments or juggling social events, time is a limited resource. You can’t always control the assignments professors throw at you or the last-minute group projects that seem to pop up, but you can control how you organize your time.

Building healthy routines, setting deadlines for yourself, and prioritizing tasks can help you stay on top of your responsibilities without feeling overwhelmed. When the world feels unpredictable, having a sense of control over your schedule can bring peace of mind and reduce stress. And moreover, it’s okay to adjust when things don’t go according to plan -flexibility is a skill in itself.

3. Your Health and Well-being

Your physical and mental health are areas where you have more control than you might think. While you can’t control the overall stress levels of college life, or the unexpected setbacks that may come your way, you can control how you care for yourself.

Eating nutritious meals, getting enough sleep, and making time for exercise or relaxation are all within your power. Mental health is an extremely important component and practicing self-compassion, reaching out when you need help, and taking time for activities that bring you joy are all things you can decide to prioritize.

Taking small steps toward well-being each day can improve your overall wellbeing and make those bigger challenges feel a little less daunting.

4. Mindset and Attitude

While you can’t always control what happens to you, you can control how you choose to view it. This is where mindset comes in. How you interpret challenges or failures can have a profound effect on how you move forward. Embracing a growth mindset; the belief that you can always learn, adapt, and improve, can help you overcome even the toughest obstacles. The attitude you adopt will also influence how you handle things. Focusing on what you can do rather than what you cannot, creates an environment where you can thrive. Letting go of perfectionism, and learning to appreciate your progress, no matter how small, can be incredibly powerful if you allow it to be.

What You Cannot Control

Now, let’s talk about the things that are outside of your control. While it’s tempting to try to control everything in your life, and let’s face it, we’ve all been there, there are forces beyond our influence. Especially in the current political, social, more existential climate. It can feel like more and more is beyond our grasp.

1. Other People’s Actions and Attitudes

As much as you might want to, you cannot control other people. Whether it’s a roommate who never does the dishes, a classmate who disagrees with your point of view, or a friend who’s going through a tough time and takes it out on you, other people’s behavior is their own. This can be especially frustrating, particularly in a college environment where you’re often surrounded by diverse perspectives and personalities.

It’s important to remember that you can only control how you respond to others. You can’t make someone change their mind or force them to see things your way, but you can choose how you engage with them. Understanding that you can’t control people, you can control your reactions in those interactions. This is key to preserving your emotional wellbeing.

2. External Circumstances and Events

Looking at the broader world, there’s no denying that the current political and social climate has been challenging for many. Whether it's economic instability, political polarization, or global events that seem to be ever-evolving, external factors can often feel overwhelming.

While you can’t control these large-scale issues, you can control how you respond to them. Staying informed, participating in discussions, and getting involved in ways that align with your values are all things you can do. But it’s crucial to remember that you can’t carry the weight of the world on your shoulders. Recognizing your limits in the face of external events can free you up to focus on what truly matters to you.

3. The Past

Many people often spend a lot of time looking back, regretting missed opportunities or wishing they had done things differently. While self-reflection can be valuable, the past is something you can’t change. The mistakes you’ve made, the opportunities you didn’t take, and the things you wish had gone differently are all behind you.

What you can control is how you learn from your past experiences. You can use those lessons to move forward, to grow, and to make better decisions in the future. Remember, everyone has a past full of mistakes and missed chances, what matters most is how you choose to grow from them.

4. The Future

No matter how much you plan or anticipate, the future is always uncertain. College might be a steppingstone to a career, but the path isn’t always clear. Whether it’s a job market that seems unpredictable or unforeseen changes in your personal life, the future is out of your hands. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t plan, setting goals is important, but it’s equally important to remain flexible and adaptable. We don’t know, what we don’t know, until we know it. The future will come, and it will bring its challenges. But how you prepare for it, and how you react when it doesn’t unfold the way you expect, is what’s truly in your control.

The Art of Letting Go

One of the most powerful things you can do for your mental and emotional wellbeing is to let go of things beyond your control. This doesn’t mean giving up, or being passive; rather, it means accepting that you can’t control everything, and even more so that, that is okay.

Focusing on what you can change and releasing what you cannot- frees up your energy for the things that truly matter- YOU! Your growth, your health, and your relationships. The journey of life will be full of challenges but understanding what you can and cannot control will help you navigate it with resilience and clarity.

So take a deep breath, focus on what you can do today, and trust that you’re doing the best you can. After all, that’s all anyone can ask of you.