It’s that time of year again: the time of pop quizzes, studying, and what feels like an endless amount of assignments. As a Senior now, I can confidently say I’ve been through almost all of it. I’ve been through the late nights (all-nighters included), breakdowns, and moments where I have fallen asleep at my desk. But speaking from the other side, I can tell you that you will definitely get through it. Controlling your stress before it controls you is incredibly important, so today I’m here to give you all of my tips on how to manage your stress.
To me, it’s a four-step process: identify triggers, relax, exercise, and enjoy your hobbies. In this school, so much stress is caused by time management problems (personally, that triggers my stress the most). When you don’t finish one day’s work, it gets pushed to the next day…and the next…and the day after…until it eats away at your brain for what feels like forever. The solution: an effective schedule that can be the difference between stress-filled and stress-free days. Especially during the busier times of the year, my personal studying schedule is simple—create a plan, remove distractions, and stick to the plan. When I get on the bus at the end of the day, I find it helpful to create a to-do list (I use Notion).
As much as reducing triggers helps, there’s a lot more you can do too! Remember to relax. Human bodies are not meant to work forever. Give yourself breaks while you do work. This break is the time to pick up your phone or hop on Discord for a few minutes, text your friends back, plug in headphones and listen to your favorite songs, or go talk to your family. Hopefully, this will clear your mind and allow you to ‘reset’.
Exercise is also a proven stress reducer. Go on a jog, ride your bike, take a walk, or go to the gym—regular exercise, or even just getting up and moving around can help you feel less tired, improve your mood, and let you clear your mind and focus on something other than the stressor. Take a deep breath once in a while too—as students, it’s so easy to get caught up in other problems and the future. But try not to worry about things that are out of your control. Work towards small goals every day and try not to get overwhelmed with stress.
Whatever you do, it is extremely important to not let yourself get trapped by your pressures. When you start to get busy, the things you love to do are easy to push aside. However, doing things you love to do can bring joy into your life. Remember to keep your hobbies close to you. Create time to do the things you love so that you always have something to look forward to!
Take your life into your own hands and take the initiative to reduce your stress. It might feel overwhelming at first, but it is sure to get better over time. Do not let your stress control you. And remember, you can always reach out to a counselor or peer (like myself) about this kind of topic: do not be afraid. Wishing you a stress-free school year!
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