Richard Carlson’s Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff… and It’s All Small Stuff is the perfect book to kick off a brand-new school year. Whether you are a first-year student hoping to make the biggest splash in college or a fourth-year student trying to plan the next chapter of your life, there are bound to be ups and downs along the roller coaster of life.
For those of you already intrigued, this book is one of the easiest reads you will pick up this semester. Why? Because everything in it, in my opinion, is common sense. We all just need a reminder every once in a while. The book is divided into 100 very short chapters, each addressing a different habit or mindset that can make our lives unnecessarily stressful. Here are a few of my must-read chapters.
Chapter 19: Lower Your Tolerance to Stress. This is one of my favorite chapters. Carlson argues that society tends to admire people who can handle high levels of stress. Think about how often you hear professionals proudly say, “I have a high tolerance for stress.” The problem is that when we see stress as a badge of honor, we often continue taking on more and more until we reach our breaking point. Carlson suggests doing the opposite. Instead of trying to become better at handling stress, we should learn to recognize it early and address it before it becomes a serious problem. As students, I think we are especially prone to falling into this cycle. So, lower your tolerance. With less stress, we can be more effective, more present, and maybe even have a little more fun.
Chapter 22: Repeat to Yourself, “Life Isn’t an Emergency.” The main idea here is that much of the pressure we feel every day comes from ourselves. And believe me, I get it. At our age, it can feel like life is passing us by while we desperately try to keep up. This chapter reminds us that it is okay to slow down and take a step back. Not every assignment, email, missed opportunity, or bad day needs to feel like a crisis. Sometimes, in order to become our best and most peaceful selves, we need to pause and simply appreciate where we are.
Chapter 26: Set Aside Quiet Time, Every Day. This chapter is exactly what the title suggests. In a busy college student’s life, it can be easy to forget that not every moment of the day needs to be about our future career, next exam, or next leadership position. To feel truly peaceful and fulfilled, we need to carve out time for ourselves. Carlson suggests that growth does not only happen in lecture halls or at GBMs. It also happens when we have the chance to reflect on ourselves and what we have learned. Freshmen, especially, take some time to think about what you love and what you do not love about these first few weeks. You might be surprised by what you learn about yourself, and it could help you navigate the rest of the semester.
The book has dozens of other relatable chapters, and it is an easy read to finish in 100 days since each chapter is only about one to three pages. If you give this book a chance, you might find yourself feeling a little more in tune with yourself, the people around you, and your community.
So, as we head into another school year, let’s all take a moment to slow down, take a breath, and remember that the small stuff is not always worth sweating.
