Starting in early August, students across the globe are heading back to school and that means one thing: stress. Whether you are in college, high school, middle, or elementary school you will feel the panic; between the 8 hour school days, after-school activities (I'm talking to you marching band, football, etc.), tests, papers, and social drama it is almost impossible to avoid the obligations which are weighing on your shoulders. Since none of us want to have a breakdown and start attacking parked cars with an umbrella, I've created a list of some of the best ways to manage your school-induced stress in order to start your school year off on the right foot!
1. A planner
Never ever ever by any circumstances underestimate the benefits that come from having a planner. Writing down your clubs, homework, and everyday activities in a planner takes away the stress of wondering what you need to do next. Some planners even offer an hour by hour breakdown so you can plan out your day (especially for my fellow Type A students). You do not have to go out and buy some $50 designer planner; just find one that fits your lifestyle. I promise that after a few days of having your planner to keep you on schedule, you will feel the stress start to melt away.
2. A stress-free activity
One obstacle that comes from being involved in activities such as music, art, or athletics is that the activities that used to calm you down are now sources of more stress. It is important to find a hobby that you enjoy and that gives you an outlet for all of your stress. Exercise is always a good recommendation because it is good for your body and endorphins are key to a happy mind. If exercise does not do it for you or you are just having one of those days, try reading, listening to music, crafting, coloring, playing with your dog, baking, spending time with friends, taking a nap, doing a face mask, playing video games, and you get the picture. There are so many options that allow you to take a step back and relax.
3. Scheduling some down time
As students we are constantly going from one activity to the next. An average school day for some kids may mean not getting home until 10 o'clock at night. With your handy dandy planner around you can clearly see how full your schedule is; you need a break. I'm not saying pack your bags and go become an alpaca farmer, but you have to find a small portion of time to stop and unwind. Schedule at least an hour or two every few days where you don't have to be running between clubs and school or homework and an after-school job. Whether you break this up into 30 minutes every day to watch a show on Netflix or scheduling 2 hours on Saturday to go walk your dog in the park, GO TAKE A BREAK! You will feel refreshed and have more energy to tackle your next project.
4. Family time
All through grade school my family sat down for dinner every night together. This was important to us because it was the only time of day we weren't all running in 100 different directions. These weren't always fancy meals, although I am lucky to have a mom who is an excellent cook, and they don't have to require a lot of effort. Family time is a great way to relieve stress and bond with the strangers you share a house with. Turn off the TV and take turns sharing jokes, or talk about the ridiculously hard math test you had that morning; you will miss times like these when you are an adult. In college, my friends and I started family dinners where we would gather in the dining hall and eat together. This little tradition became a new part of my college life and helped me bond more with my family away from home.
I hope everyone can take away a few ideas on how to relax. These can apply to any student in any grade and adapt them to fit your lifestyle. Just remember: take the time to relax and appreciate life because it flies by way too fast.
