Unfortunately, school is a major source of stress for a lot of students. Almost 30% of students report getting stressed or overwhelmed because of school. However, there are many things you can do to try to manage your stress levels.
- Get some sleep
- Meditation + mindfulness
- Exercise!
- Stay organised
- Consider cutting back
Get some sleep
It’s very important that you get at least 8 hours. I know that this sounds like a generic thing that people say, but sleep actually allows you to process stress better. Your brain works faster and reacts in more productive ways to feelings of stress! Try to go to sleep and wake up at a reasonable time, and if that’s not possible, then take a power nap.
Meditation + mindfulness
Meditation can be very helpful in reducing stress levels. This is because it forces you to focus on the moment you’re living in, rather than upcoming assignments and exams. If you’re starting to feel overwhelmed at school, try a deep breathing exercise or meditate daily.
Exercise!
Working out gets a bad rap – exercise is often seen as tiring and boring. But it can be really helpful in reducing stress! Try going running or cycling with a friend, and you’ll see how much less stressed you feel afterwards. This is because of the endorphins released during exercise. Even a 20 minute workout after school can make you feel better and less stressed!
Stay organised
It’s really important to keep track of all your tests and assignments. Oftentimes, students are overwhelmed because they don’t keep track of their upcoming exams, and they have to cram at the last minute, That’s why it’s important to have a planner or calendar where you keep track of all your exams and homework so you don’t have to do anything at the last second.
Consider cutting back
If you’re taking 12 GCSEs, play 6 sports and 7 instruments, lead 8 ECAs and have a part-time job, then you need to cut back. Your workload may be what’s causing you stress. If you see that you have no time for relaxing activities among your boatload of coursework and extracurriculars, then consider quitting something, at least for the time being. Don’t feel guilty about it! If it’s causing you stress, then it’s dragging you down, and you shouldn’t feel guilty about quitting it.
