School can be quite stressful from time to time. Be it from the exams, the unfinished homework, or the classes in general. While it is important to have good grades, it should also be noted that one’s mental health must not be overlooked. It might be hard to have time for oneself when classes and exams are coming up, but self-care might be easier than you think. Here is how you can deal with the stress of school.
Before anything, you have to identify what elements make you feel stressed. Identifying the problem is the first and the biggest step in solving it. Observe yourself and take extra notice of the times you feel any unpleasant emotion. Take notes of your surroundings and stimuli. By a month or two, you should have a list of all the times you felt bad. The next step is to look for similarities in those situations. For example, you might notice that your stress levels peak when it’s finals week or occasions that force you to do something you do not particularly enjoy. This way, you will have a solid idea of what causes your stress.
After the initial preparation, you must understand how to deal with your stress. The best way to overcome the factors may be different depending on the factor itself. According to BNI Treatment Centers’ official website, the main cause of stress which is seen in students is because of excessive homework. As a solution to this problem, for example, one should make themselves a study schedule or plan. Studying in an organized way not only helps you finish your work easier, but it also tires you less as you spread your work across the week without putting too much or too little pressure on yourself. Moreover, working in a scheduled way will also come in handy in adulthood; especially with work.
Another common cause of stress is due to lack of sleep. Not getting enough sleep to study for an exam or to finish homework may result in serious situations, so it doesn’t only affect your stress levels. Studies show how the human body struggles to function properly when the person doesn’t get adequate sleep in optimal hours. Some effects include but are not limited to heart disease, kidney disease, diabetes, obesity, and depression. Sleep is crucial for our body because our organs also rest and have time to prepare for a new day. It is advised to try to fix your sleep schedule and go to a sleep therapist if the situation gets any more serious.
School might be a stressful place overall and there is no way we can lower the stress levels to zero, but what we can do is find healthy ways to relieve that stress.