Том Сториз Современный английский для школьников. Школьные и жизненные ситуации на английском

Overthinking and anxiety

It was already midnight, but I was still awake, lying in bed with my phone in my hand. The room was dark and quiet, but my mind was anything but quiet. I kept thinking about everything that happened during the day and everything that might happen tomorrow. A simple conversation with a classmate suddenly felt like something important I needed to analyze again and again.

Earlier that day, I had answered a question in class, and I wasn’t fully sure if my answer was correct. At first, I didn’t think much about it. But later, the thought came back. What if I was wrong? What if the teacher thought I wasn’t prepared? What if others noticed my mistake? These questions kept repeating in my head, even though no one else probably remembered the moment at all.

This is what usually happens when I start overthinking. One small situation grows into a whole story in my mind. I imagine different versions of reality, most of them worse than what actually happened. I know it doesn’t help, but stopping it is not so easy.

The next morning, I felt a bit tired because I hadn’t slept well. On the way to school, I noticed I was already thinking about things that hadn’t even happened yet. What if I forget my homework? What if I say something wrong in front of the class? It was like my brain was trying to prepare for every possible problem at the same time.

During the first lesson, I tried to focus, but my thoughts kept drifting away. I looked at the board, but I wasn’t really seeing it. At some point, I realized I had missed part of the explanation. That made me feel even more anxious, and the cycle started again: I was behind, I was not focused, I was doing everything wrong.

At lunch, I sat with a friend and finally said what I was feeling. I expected her to say something complicated or give me advice I wouldn’t understand. But she just listened and said, «You’re thinking too much about things that haven’t even happened.» It sounded simple, almost too simple, but it made me pause.

She told me that when she feels anxious, she tries to focus on one small thing she can control. Like breathing slowly, finishing one task, or just paying attention to what is happening right now instead of everything at once. I didn’t think it would work for me, but I decided to try anyway.

Later in the day, I caught myself overthinking again. Instead of letting it grow, I stopped for a moment and focused on what I could actually see and hear. The sound of people talking, the feeling of my pen in my hand, the words on the page. It didn’t make everything disappear, but it made the thoughts a little quieter.

On the way home, I realized something important. Anxiety doesn’t always come from real problems. Sometimes it comes from imagining too many possibilities that never happen. And overthinking doesn’t solve anything — it just makes the present harder to live in.

That night, I still had thoughts in my head, but I didn’t follow all of them. Some of them I just let go, like clouds passing by without needing to hold onto them.

Here are some useful expressions you might have noticed:

lying in bed — лежать в кровати

anything but quiet — совсем не тихо (в голове)

think again and again — думать снова и снова

a simple conversation — простой разговор

come back to my mind — возвращаться в голову

overthinking — слишком много думать

small situation — небольшая ситуация

grow into a story — превращаться в целую историю

in my head — в моей голове

worse than reality — хуже, чем реальность

stop it is not easy — остановить это нелегко

feel tired — чувствовать усталость

thoughts drifting away — мысли «улетают»

miss part of the explanation — пропустить часть объяснения

feel anxious — чувствовать тревогу

cycle starts again — цикл начинается снова

talk to a friend — поговорить с другом

something you can control — то, что ты можешь контролировать

focus on the present — сосредоточиться на настоящем

one small thing — одна маленькая вещь

catch myself doing something — поймать себя на чём-то

make things quieter — сделать мысли тише

on the way home — по дороге домой

real problems — реальные проблемы

imagine possibilities — представлять возможности

let go of thoughts — отпустить мысли

cloud passing by — облако, проходящее мимо

You can use patterns like these in your own speech:

I kept thinking about ___ — Я постоянно думал (а) о ___

What if ___? — А что если ___?

It made me feel ___ — Это заставило меня чувствовать ___

I tried to focus on ___ — Я пытался (ась) сосредоточиться на ___

My thoughts kept ___ — Мои мысли продолжали ___

Instead of ___, I decided to ___ — Вместо ___ я решил (а) ___

I realized that ___ — Я понял (а), что ___

It didn’t disappear, but it became ___ — Это не исчезло, но стало ___

I could only control ___ — Я мог (ла) контролировать только ___

I let go of ___ — Я отпустил (а) ___

Now think about your own experience:

Do you often overthink small situations? When does it happen?

What kind of thoughts make you feel anxious?

How does your body react when you are stressed or anxious?

Do you find it easy or difficult to «stop thinking» about something?

What helps you calm down when your mind is too busy?

Do you focus more on the past or the future when you are anxious?

Have you ever realized later that you were worrying too much?

Who do you usually talk to when you feel overwhelmed?

Here are some possible answers:

1. Do you often overthink small situations? When does it happen?

Yes, I sometimes overthink small situations, especially after school. I keep replaying conversations in my head and thinking about what I could have said differently.

2. What kind of thoughts make you feel anxious?

I feel anxious when I think about mistakes or possible problems in the future. For example, I worry about forgetting something important or not doing well in school.

3. How does your body react when you are stressed or anxious?

When I am anxious, my heart beats faster and I feel tense. Sometimes I also find it hard to relax or concentrate on one thing.

4. Do you find it easy or difficult to «stop thinking» about something?

It is difficult to stop thinking about something once it starts. My thoughts often repeat themselves, even when I know they are not very helpful.

5. What helps you calm down when your mind is too busy?

Listening to music or taking a short walk helps me calm down. It helps me focus on something simple instead of many thoughts at once.

6. Do you focus more on the past or the future when you are anxious?

I usually focus on both. I think about past mistakes and also worry about future problems, which makes me feel even more stressed.

7. Have you ever realized later that you were worrying too much?

Yes, many times I realize that my worries were unnecessary. Most of the things I was afraid of never actually happened.

8. Who do you usually talk to when you feel overwhelmed?

I usually talk to a close friend because it helps me feel more relaxed. Sharing my thoughts makes them feel less heavy.

Complete the sentences:

I often overthink ___ because ___

When I feel anxious, I usually ___

My thoughts start to ___ when ___

Instead of worrying, I try to ___

I realized that I was worrying too much about ___

Motivation and laziness

It was Sunday evening, and I was sitting at my desk with an open notebook in front of me. I had planned to study for at least two hours, maybe finish my homework, and even prepare a bit for next week. That was the plan. But in reality, I had already been sitting there for twenty minutes doing almost nothing.

My phone was next to me, lighting up every few minutes with new messages. I told myself, «Just five more minutes,» but those five minutes kept repeating. I opened my textbook, looked at the first page, and immediately felt tired. It wasn’t real tiredness, more like a strange resistance to starting anything.

This is what happens when laziness takes control. It doesn’t always look like doing nothing. Sometimes it looks like cleaning your desk, checking your phone, or thinking about studying without actually doing it. And the more I delay, the harder it becomes to start.

Earlier that day, I had felt motivated. I made a list of things I wanted to finish. I even imagined how good it would feel to be free in the evening, without homework hanging over my head. That feeling was strong… but it disappeared quickly once I sat down.

At some point, I stood up and walked to the kitchen. I wasn’t hungry, but I still opened the fridge. Nothing interesting was there, so I closed it again. I laughed a little because I realized I was doing everything except what I was supposed to do.

After a while, I went back to my room and just sat there. I told myself I needed motivation, but maybe I was waiting for the wrong thing. Motivation doesn’t always arrive first. Sometimes it comes after you start, not before.

So I decided to do something small. Just ten minutes of studying. No pressure, no big plan. I set a timer and opened my book again. At first, it still felt boring, but I kept going. Ten minutes turned into fifteen, then twenty.

Something interesting happened. The more I worked, the less lazy I felt. It didn’t become suddenly easy, but it became easier than before. The resistance in my head started to fade, like a heavy door slowly opening.

Later, I finished most of my homework without even noticing how time passed. I wasn’t suddenly super motivated, but I was already in motion, and stopping felt harder than continuing.

Before going to bed, I thought about the difference between motivation and discipline. Motivation is like a spark — it appears quickly and disappears quickly too. But discipline is more like a habit, something that stays even when you don’t feel like doing anything.

I still have lazy days. Everyone does. But now I understand something simple: waiting for the perfect moment doesn’t really work. Starting is usually the hardest part, but also the most important one.

And sometimes, five minutes of action is more powerful than hours of thinking about it.

Here are some useful expressions you might have noticed:

sit at my desk — сидеть за столом

open notebook — открытая тетрадь

make a plan — строить план

in reality — в реальности

check my phone — проверять телефон

just five more minutes — «ещё пять минут»

take control — брать контроль

feel tired instantly — сразу чувствовать усталость

resistance to starting — сопротивление началу

take over — брать верх

do nothing — ничего не делать

clean my desk — убирать стол

delay something — откладывать что-то

make it harder to start — усложнять начало

feel motivated — чувствовать мотивацию

make a list — составлять список

hang over my head — «висеть над головой» (о задачах)

walk to the kitchen — пойти на кухню

open the fridge — открыть холодильник

do everything except ___ — делать всё кроме ___

sit there quietly — сидеть тихо

start something small — начать с малого

set a timer — поставить таймер

no pressure — без давления

keep going — продолжать

in motion — в движении

fade away — исчезать постепенно

finish homework — закончить домашнее задание

pass time — проходить (о времени)

discipline vs motivation — дисциплина против мотивации

start is the hardest part — начало — самая трудная часть

You can use patterns like these in your own speech:

I planned to ___, but I ended up ___ — Я планировал (а) ___, но в итоге ___

I kept telling myself ___ — Я постоянно говорил (а) себе ___

I didn’t feel like ___ — Мне не хотелось ___

Instead of ___, I started ___ — Вместо ___ я начал (а) ___

It felt easier after I ___ — Стало легче после того, как я ___

I decided to start with ___ — Я решил (а) начать с ___

The hardest part is ___ — Самая сложная часть — это ___

I realized that ___ — Я понял (а), что ___

Motivation comes when ___ — Мотивация приходит, когда ___

I kept going even though ___ — Я продолжал (а), хотя ___

Now think about your own experience:

When do you usually feel most lazy?

What tasks do you often delay, and why?

Do you use your phone or other distractions when you should be working?

What helps you finally start studying or doing homework?

Do you feel more motivated in the morning or evening?

Have you ever started something small and ended up finishing everything?

What is harder for you: starting or continuing?

How do you feel after you finish a task you were avoiding?

Here are some possible answers:

1. When do you usually feel most lazy?

I usually feel lazy in the evening after a long school day. My energy is low, and I find it hard to focus on studying or homework.

2. What tasks do you often delay, and why?

I often delay homework and revision because they feel boring or difficult. I sometimes prefer doing easier things first, even if they are not important.

3. Do you use your phone or other distractions when you should be working?

Yes, I often check my phone when I should be working. It is a habit that makes it harder to concentrate on my tasks.

4. What helps you finally start studying or doing homework?

Setting a small goal helps me start, like working for ten minutes. Once I begin, it becomes easier to continue.

5. Do you feel more motivated in the morning or evening?

I feel more motivated in the morning because I am more focused and less tired. In the evening, I usually lose energy quickly.

6. Have you ever started something small and ended up finishing everything?

Yes, many times I start with a small task and then continue working. After a while, I forget about laziness and just keep going.

7. What is harder for you: starting or continuing?

Starting is definitely harder for me because I often overthink it. Once I begin, continuing becomes much easier.

8. How do you feel after you finish a task you were avoiding?

I feel relieved and proud of myself. It feels good to finally finish something that I was delaying for a long time.

Complete the sentences:

I planned to ___, but I ___

I usually feel lazy when ___

Instead of starting, I ___

It becomes easier when I ___

The hardest part for me is ___

Self-esteem and comparison with others

It was a normal school day, but I remember one small moment that stayed in my mind for a long time. We were sitting in the classroom before the lesson started, talking and scrolling through our phones. Someone showed a picture from social media, and suddenly the conversation changed. People started comparing outfits, grades, and even plans for the future.

At first, I didn’t say much. I just listened. But inside, I felt something uncomfortable. It was like I was quietly measuring myself against everyone else in the room. She has better grades. He speaks more confidently. They look more successful. These thoughts came automatically, without me even trying.

The problem with comparison is that it usually doesn’t feel fair. You compare your «inside» with someone else’s «outside.» You see their best moments, but you know all your own doubts, mistakes, and insecurities. And somehow, your life always feels a bit smaller in that comparison.

After school, I walked home slowly. I kept thinking about why I do this so often. Why do I measure my value based on other people? I know logically that everyone has different strengths, but emotions don’t always listen to logic.

When I got home, I opened my notebook and tried something different. Instead of writing what I lack, I wrote what I can do. It felt strange at first, almost unnatural. But slowly, I started listing small things: I can stay focused when I try, I can help my friends, I can improve step by step. They didn’t feel impressive, but they were real.

Later, I talked to a friend about it. She told me something simple: «You’re not in competition with everyone. You’re just on your own path.» At first, it sounded like a cliché, but the more I thought about it, the more sense it made. We all start from different places, move at different speeds, and care about different things.

Still, comparison doesn’t disappear easily. Even when I try not to do it, it sometimes comes back automatically. But I noticed something important: I can choose what to do after the thought appears. I can either follow it and feel worse, or notice it and move on.

One evening, I was studying and started comparing myself again. Instead of stopping everything, I just took a short break and focused on one question. Then another. Slowly, my attention shifted from others back to my own work. It didn’t feel like a big change, but it felt healthier.

Now I understand that self-esteem is not something you either have or don’t have. It changes. It grows when you pay attention to your own progress instead of constantly looking at others. Some days are better, some are worse, but that doesn’t define who you are.

On my way to school the next morning, I noticed I wasn’t checking others as much. I was just walking, thinking about my own day, my own plans. And for once, that felt enough.

Here are some useful expressions you might have noticed:

stay in my mind — оставаться в голове

scroll through social media — листать соцсети

compare outfits — сравнивать одежду

feel uncomfortable — чувствовать дискомфорт

measure myself against others — сравнивать себя с другими

without even trying — даже не пытаясь

automatically come to my mind — автоматически приходить в голову

inside my head — у меня в голове

feel unfair — казаться несправедливым

outside vs inside — внешнее против внутреннего

best moments — лучшие моменты

self-doubt — неуверенность в себе

walk home slowly — медленно идти домой

think about something — думать о чём-то

measure my value — измерять свою ценность

listen to logic — слушать логику

write in my notebook — писать в тетради

what I lack — чего мне не хватает

what I can do — что я могу делать

step by step — шаг за шагом

own path — свой путь

make sense — иметь смысл

different speeds — разные скорости

come back again — возвращаться снова

notice a thought — замечать мысль

move on — двигаться дальше

focus on my work — сосредоточиться на работе

pay attention to progress — обращать внимание на прогресс

feel enough — чувствовать себя достаточным

You can use patterns like these in your own speech:

I started comparing myself to ___ — Я начал (а) сравнивать себя с ___

It made me feel ___ — Это заставило меня чувствовать ___

I realized that ___ — Я понял (а), что ___

Instead of focusing on ___, I focused on ___ — Вместо ___ я сосредоточился (ась) на ___

I often compare myself when ___ — Я часто сравниваю себя, когда ___

My thoughts come automatically when ___ — Мои мысли появляются автоматически, когда ___

I try to remind myself that ___ — Я стараюсь напоминать себе, что ___

I decided to focus on my own ___ — Я решил (а) сосредоточиться на своём ___

It doesn’t define who I am — Это не определяет, кто я есть

I feel better when I ___ — Мне становится лучше, когда я ___

Now think about your own experience:

Do you often compare yourself to others? In what situations?

How does comparison make you feel?

What do you usually compare: grades, appearance, skills, or something else?

Do you think social media makes comparison worse or better? Why?

What are your personal strengths that you sometimes forget about?

How do you usually react when you feel «not good enough»?

Who helps you feel more confident about yourself?

What helps you focus on your own progress instead of others?

Here are some possible answers:

1. Do you often compare yourself to others? In what situations?

Yes, I sometimes compare myself to others at school, especially when I see their grades or confidence. It usually happens when I feel unsure about my own progress.

2. How does comparison make you feel?

It often makes me feel less confident and a bit stressed. I start thinking that I am not doing enough, even if that is not true.

3. What do you usually compare: grades, appearance, skills, or something else?

I usually compare my grades and skills with others. I sometimes forget that everyone learns at a different speed.

4. Do you think social media makes comparison worse or better? Why?

I think social media makes comparison worse because people only show their best moments. It is easy to forget that real life is not always perfect.

5. What are your personal strengths that you sometimes forget about?

I sometimes forget that I am hardworking and can improve if I practice. I also try to be supportive to my friends, which is important too.

6. How do you usually react when you feel «not good enough»?

I usually feel quiet and start doubting myself. But later I try to remind myself that everyone has different abilities.

7. Who helps you feel more confident about yourself?

My friends and family help me feel more confident. They remind me of my strengths when I forget them.

8. What helps you focus on your own progress instead of others?

Setting personal goals helps me focus on myself. When I track my own progress, I compare less with others.

Complete the sentences:

I often compare myself to ___ when ___

It makes me feel ___ because ___

I sometimes forget that ___