Everybody has routines that they need to do on a daily basis. Whether you’re in high school, college, or you’re finished with school, there are so many things that we have to get done, whether it’s daily or weekly. We’ve convinced ourselves that we need to finish these tasks and that we’ll feel better once we do. We want to feel accomplished and relieved that all these tasks and responsibilities are done. But what if you have an endless list of tasks that you need to do?

Regardless of the amount of tasks you need to get done, your mental health comes first. Your mental health is incredibly important, despite what some may say. If you’re feeling miserable, stop what you’re doing and take a moment to breathe. Take a walk if you have to, listen to music that calms you down, or take a nap. At the end of the day, your number one concern should be your mental health. If you’re having anxiety or having a breakdown, please stop what you’re doing and take care of yourself. Have a glass of water and just slowly breathe in and out.

We tackle so many tasks every day because we’ve convinced ourselves that we can handle them all. You don’t need to say “yes" to everything that you’re asked to do. You can Step Up and say “no," especially if you’re feeling overwhelmed and you feel like your anxiety is about to skyrocket through the roof. It is okay to put your health first.

If you’re at a party and you’re feeling overwhelmed, please leave. Tell your friends that you need to leave, and they should understand. If you’re overwhelmed, it’s okay to take yourself out of the situation and give yourself time to breathe and process everything. If you have a ton of homework assignments that you need to do, it’s okay to set aside an hour to just relax and ease your mind. No grade or assignment is worth your health.

We all want to accomplish our numerous tasks, but what good does it do if it affects our health? What’s the point of an ‘A’ on a homework assignment if you’re battling demons every day? An ‘A’ won’t take your anxiety away, and it certainly won’t defeat the demons you battle with. No matter what you need to do, you always need to make sure you are in the right state of mind. Give yourself time to relax and breathe.

It’s okay to say “no." It’s okay to think about your health. All the tasks you need to do may be important, but they are not as important as your health. Saying “no" to things can help you feel relieved, and will help your state of mind. It will help to release your stress and make you feel better. It’s okay to say, “no, I’m going to do that tomorrow." It’s okay to push a some tasks aside for later in order to get yourself together, because your health isn’t replaceable.

So the next time you’re feeling overwhelmed, panicked, or your mind just isn’t where it’s supposed to be, step up and say “no" in order to compose yourself. Nothing is as important as your health.