If you went up to a high schooler and asked them what they dislike about school, they would probably mention stress or something related to it. Ever since 2020, teens have been stressed out more than ever before. Stress is something that is usually associated with school, and it’s something every student will experience at least once during their life.
What exactly is stress in the first place? In simple terms, stress can be defined as a feeling of emotional strain and pressure, and it is a type of psychological pain that we experience. Stress is inevitable, so it’s very important to be prepared while being able to identify when you are stressed and have effective coping strategies for managing stress. It’s kind of like studying for a quiz or exam, you want to be prepared so you don’t struggle and end up failing.
Speaking of quizzes and tests, what do you think causes the most stress in students? When we think of school and stress, one of the first things that comes to mind is homework, projects, and tests. According to bnitreatment.com, the top three reasons why students experience stress are packed schedules, not getting enough sleep, and poor organization skills and habits. The main problem though is packed schedules. Having a packed schedule can mean a student may have a heavy workload they have to take on, usually more than one class at a time. Students also have extracurricular activities that they participate in like sports after school hours.
High school is definitely one of the most stressful times of our lives. In elementary school, people will usually ask you the question “What do you want to be when you grow up?” You might have said something silly back then, but during high school when someone asks you this question, it’s much more serious. High school years are the last 4 years before you become an adult and are off on your own. The majority of students want a good education and want to succeed in life.
Most often, teens will take harder classes and participate in several extracurricular activities that can help exceed their academic abilities and get them into good colleges and universities. This can cause a lot of stress on a young teenager’s mind. It’s not just the work they have to get done, it’s also the pressure of growing older and getting into a good school. These are called “stressors,” and they are the culprits of what causes us stress. Stressors can be several different things, not just homework or your AP World exam tomorrow. Stress can be different for everyone. Some people can experience more pressure and stress than others, but everyone experiences the same problems. But how can you tell if you’re getting stressed out?
Certain signs of stress are easy to identify if you know what the symptoms are. The most obvious signs of stress include feeling tired a lot, worrying about your academic life/performance, signs of anxiety, and different signs of negative behaviors (irritability, feeling more impatient, or mood swings). Other symptoms of stress even include headaches, nausea, and also changes in eating and sleeping habits. In worse-case scenarios, stress can lead to drug and substance abuse which can lead to many terrible health conditions.
Let’s get to the point, how can we prevent and manage stress effectively? First, take a break! If you’re experiencing a lot of stress in your life, feel free to take a mental break. Take a deep breath and relax. After you’re done resetting, you’ll have to identify what is causing you stress. There may be one reason, or even several reasons why you feel stressed. If you’re having trouble identifying your stressors, think about your daily habits. For example, do your teachers give you a lot of work? Do you have bad habits like not finishing assignments, not getting enough sleep, or being unorganized? If you’re stuck, think about what you do during class, do you not pay attention? What about when you get home, Did you finish your homework/assignments?
After you identify what your stressors are, find what coping strategies that you can use to help you prevent feeling stressed, and help get rid of the stress that you are experiencing. There are many different types of coping mechanisms that you can use to help with stressful moments. But what is coping? Coping involves adjusting to or being able to tolerate negative events/realities while also trying to keep a positive self-image. Coping is used during life changes that can be considered stressful. The most commonly used coping strategies are lowering your expectations, asking for help, taking responsibility for the situation, and directly trying to change the source of your stress. These are just a few examples of basic coping strategies.
People can also have different coping strategies that they prefer to use over others since certain coping styles can reflect personality differences. In stressful situations, it’s important to find what the best coping strategies are for a stressful school life. The best ways to cope with school stress according to Harvard Summer School are keeping track of your thoughts and feelings (journal, diary, etc.), exercising daily, getting at least 9 hours of sleep each day, eating healthy, reaching out to people who can help you (friends, family, school counselors, etc.), letting yourself take mental breaks to relax, learning to prepare for stressful periods of your life, and being able to identify when life is stressful. If you do all of these things listed above, you will notice a difference in your behavior and your overall feelings of stress. If you take it to the next level, you will even notice your academic performance improve.
All in all, stress is completely normal. It’s okay to experience stressful moments during your life, especially when you’re super busy during the school year and while you try to achieve your short-term and long-term goals in life. Even if experiencing stress is normal, it’s not something anyone wants to go through. If students can find effective ways to manage their stress and balance their school lives with their out-of-school lives, they can all live healthy, stress-free lives.
