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Let’s say you’re a high school student whose grades are A’s, B’s, and C’s. They’re not terrible, but you know you can do better. Luckily, you are in a scholar program that can help you, but they give you homework to do as well. So you take the time to organize your schedule for all the work and Advanced Placement (AP) work you must do, but then you have after-school clubs almost every day. You love attending all of them; some are planning upcoming events. You volunteer to help, and now you realize your schedule is getting packed, so filled you forget you have a math test the next day and fail it. Bringing down your grade to a C, then you find out the jobs you applied for didn’t accept you, and now you are stressed because Christmas is right around the corner. You come home from school, crying and distressed, and then you get a buzz from your phone. A classmate from school texted you saying rude things, and now you’re crying even more, not knowing how to get out of your deep hole.
This is only a part of what high schoolers might be going through. There are also family problems for junior and senior college applications to do as well. So much falls on top of a high school student; only a few can receive the help they need. Yet this isn’t talked about enough; we go through academic, social, and emotional stress, and as a sophomore, I can say that the anxiety is real! So for the students who are unsure how to deal with this anxiety, I listed seven steps below you can take to make your high school life easier so you still have time just to be a kid.
Time Management
The most commonly reported sources of stress are school (83%), getting into a good college, or deciding what to do after high school (69%). Financial concerns for their families (65 percent). This was a study taken by The American Psychological Association. School is the most reported source of stress, and many students have a problem with time management, and school work can build up as a result. So the most helpful tip would be to keep your schedule organized with Google Calendar. Before, I used to write down things I needed to do on a notepad, but as the school year commenced, there wasn’t enough room on my notepad. Google Calendar was a lifesaver; now, I can’t go through my day without it. Google Calendar also sends you notifications from your phone so that you can remember to do those things, and it can also motivate you to do them. First, start to use Google Calendar for when to do school work, when it’s due, breaks in between, and when you want to get it done. Then as you get the hang of planning those events, plan other things you need to do, like clubs, study for a test, or when making college applications. This way, you can stay organized in your week so that you find time to do other things than just school work.
Little by Little
It’s easy to put everything you need to do in just one day. Especially if it’s a big assignment so that you can just get it over with. Yet this can take away time you need for other things, which can make your schedule packed, leaving you stressed. So start off slow! As soon as you get the assignment or project, mark when it’s due on your calendar and take an hour every day to complete it till it’s due or how long you estimate it will take. If you can’t find time to do it one day in the week, you can always take the time to do it during your lunch period or a free period. This way, you won’t have to do it the day before and sleep late. This can also help in giving you a day-to-day routine. You can keep the same time on when to go to sleep and wake up for school. The later you sleep, the more stressed you’ll be, so keeping a day-to-day schedule can help! For example: Wake up, Make your bed, Wash your face, Change, Eat breakfast, Go to school, Do homework, Do any Hobbies, and Go to sleep.
Ask a Teacher or Counselor
If you are failing a class, not doing well in it, or just need some extra support, you can always ask the teacher if they provide tutoring after school hours, or if not, find time to do it during the school day! During your lunch period or even during class. If they can’t find time in their schedule, you can always reach out to your guidance counselor for tutoring opportunities on your own time so they can fit into your schedule.
Build a Study or Support Group
Sometimes if you lose track of your studies or other things you need to do, other people can help remind you! Build a support group so that you can remind each other. It can be friends who take the same classes as you, and you can study over group calls, over coffee, or at a library. Not only hold each other accountable for your studies but study together! This can especially help if the way your teacher teaches the subject doesn’t help you.
Take a Mental Health Day
Forty-five percent of teens reported having difficulty concentrating on schoolwork. 2 in 5 Gen Z teens (ages 13-17) said the stress level in their life had increased over the past year, said PsyCom; if you are part of the 45 percent of teens that can’t concentrate on school because of outside problems or social issues. Take a mental health day; it’s hard to manage school work and focus on school when so much is going on around you outside of school. So take a day for yourself, take the time to relax, and reflect. Schools now will allow you to miss days because of mental health reasons. Unfortunately, you can only take a certain amount of them, so use them when you need a break and take advantage of the time to recharge!
Eat Well, Exercise, and Get Enough Sleep.
According to PsyCom, Many teens reported lying awake at night (35%), overeating or eating unhealthy foods (26%), and skipping meals (23%) due to stress in the past month. This can extremely affect your mental health and worsen it. Eating unhealthy and sleeping at different times can cause mood swings, depression, and anxiety. So along with the organization in your schedule, add meditation and physical activity! If you find time in your day, make use of it to meditate and focus on your breathing. Working out or doing a sport can also help take your mind off things! And also benefits your physical health. Along with your Google calendar, write down what time you want to sleep and would like to eat so you can keep track of your eating and sleeping habits. Getting rid of junk or greasy foods in your home can also help make yourself healthy–try organic foods! At the end of the day, you can also apply meditation before you sleep so you might easily fall asleep immediately.
All Together
Once you notice you’re gaining more stress, take the time to adjust to these tips so that as you move into the new quarter of the school year, you might feel less stressed and overall be mentally and physically healthy. Making time for yourself and your mental state is vital to not only your health but your school work as well. Once you start applying these methods to your everyday life, it can also impact your adult life and how you organize it as you age. Yet, for now, you’re doing great. Relax. Take a deep breath in.… Hold it…and out. Again, being a high school student is stressful, yet hopefully, these tips above can make your high school experience a little bit easier.
I can relate to the stress and anxiety that comes with juggling academics, extracurriculars, and personal life. The tips provided are practical and easy to implement. I particularly liked the emphasis on time management and the idea of taking a mental health day. It’s so important to remember that it’s okay to take a break and recharge. And the reminder to eat well, exercise, and get enough sleep – simple yet so crucial. Thanks for the great article and for advocating for mental health in high school students! Keep up the good work!