Tips for High Schoolers to Deal With Stress

As a fellow student, I understand how stressful high school can be. The burden placed on today's youth due to internal expectations, familial expectations, societal expectations, etc. can often seem overwhelming ... and it is. The stress high schoolers feel is progressively increasing, and since there is no end in sight, it is crucial that students have effective ways of dealing with this pressure, which is what this article will dive in to.

Tip #1 - Organize Your Time

By using your notebook or device to keep track of your work, it becomes substantially easier to stay on top of your assignments, tests, and deadlines. Planners also assist with balancing academics, extracurriculars, and personal life, by creating a clear schedule for students. Additionally, planners allow you to set short and long-term goals, which helps students stay focused and motivated through a difficult school year.

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Tip #2 - Create a Study Routine

The expression "burning out" is something that students commonly fall victim to in high school, because they lack a study routine that allows them to flourish. By developing a study routine that includes breaks, students are able to rest and recharge, which increases productivity overall. When creating a routine, it is important that you cater it to who you are as a person, because study routines are not a one-size-fits-all.

"Getting into a study routine is one of the best school habits we can form" Katie Azevedo, M.Ed

Tip #3 - Limit Screen Time

A frequent complaint of high schoolers is that they "Don't have enough time" to complete all of their assignments. A big reason for this, however, is that they choose to allocate their time to scrolling the internet or playing video games. Personally, when I checked my screen time, I was shocked to see that I spent almost 7 hours on my phone, bouncing through various apps, and chasing a short-lasting dopamine with long lasting side effects. After seeing this, I set a time limit on my main social media apps, and the difference was drastic. Even though I woke up and went to bed at the same time, I felt I "created" more time in the day, which boosted my productivity and bettered my mental state. I understand how difficult this can be, which is why I recommend shaving off 15-30 minutes of screen time per app, and increasing this number over time.

Final Tip - Know when to ask for help

As much as you can try to relieve stress, the truth is that high school is hard. This is why it is extremely important that you ask your friends, family, and teachers for help, because high school is a burden no one should have to go through alone. Even though it may seem like a worthless venture to ask for help with assignments and extensions on deadlines, you would be surprised how many teachers are willing to grant it. A teacher is supposed to make sure there students thrive, but they can't know you are sinking if you don't tell them.

To summarize, there are many effective ways to relieve the stress of high school, but all of these ways require a conscious effort by the student. Whether it's creating a plan or routine, putting the phone down, or talking with a sibling, the student must apply themselves, or else they will fall back into their old ways. Lastly, If you are happy, angered, or confused by this article, make sure to leave a comment and I will be sure to get back to you!