Stress is a part of life and some stress is necessary to get us motivated and do more than lie in bed all day.
At school, stress comes in lots of forms: getting on with teachers and friends, doing work in class, doing work at home, putting the work off (procrastination), studying for exams being involved in sport, music, cultural and service activities.
To cope with all of this it is important to have a balanced or well-rounded life including physical activity, time for fun things and activities you like as well as school work. A combination of these things and not just focusing on the work will help you gain the grades you want while also enjoying life.
13 Tips to Ease Stress
Use these tips to help keep stress at bay.
- Ask yourself what you can do about the sources of your stress. Think through the pros and cons. Take action where you can.
- Keep a positive, realistic attitude. Accept that although you can’t control certain things, you’re in charge of how you respond.
- Stand up for yourself in a polite way. Share your feelings, opinions, or beliefs, instead of becoming angry, defensive, or passive.
- Learn and practice relaxation techniques. Try breathing exercises,meditation, prayer, pilates, or tai chi.
- Exercise regularly. You’ll feel better and be more prepared to handle problems.
- Eat healthy. Avoid too much sugar. Focus on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein. When you’re stressed, you’ll probably want less-nutritious comfort foods, but if you overdo them, they’ll add to your problems.
- Try to manage your time wisely.
- Say no, where you can, to things that would add more stress to your life.
- Make time for hobbies and interests.
- Get enough rest and sleep. Your body needs time to recover from stressful events.
- Don’t rely on alcohol, drugs, or food to help against stress. Ease up on caffeine, too.
- Spend time with people you love.
- Talk with a counselor or take a stress management class for more help.
