Ways for Students to Manage Stress During High School

High school can be quite the stressful time for any student, especially during unprecedented times such as these. There are numerous stressors to deal with, including social, family and academic pressures. These kinds of pressure can become even more intense as you approach senior year, as well as graduation. Along with your normal sources of anxiety, the pressure of having to develop a plan for your post-high school life increases dramatically. Here are some ways, compiled from Campus Access, (www.campusaccess.com) to better handle your schedule, so you can reduce stress and focus on the important things.

Tips for Managing Stress

-Recognize and manage stress.

-Prioritize your life.

-Make lists to help you organize your schedule.

-Don't take on more than you can handle.

-Take care of yourself by getting enough sleep and eating well.

Stress Management Alternatives

Try thinking of alternate ways to deal with stress. Try tailoring your approach to your specific situation. For instance, if you are active in your community and your school, and have a large family, you may feel overwhelmed by having many people involved in your life on a daily basis. Taking some time out of your day to be alone may be the best way to handle this type of stress. You may just need a moment to be alone and to collect your thoughts before moving on to the next challenge.

Seek Professional Counseling

If your stress persists and you can't figure out a way to handle it, you may want to try speaking to your school counselor. If you do not feel comfortable speaking to your counselor, try seeking a more private version of counseling. In this day and age, counseling does not have a negative connotation and stigma it once did. Counseling is meant to help people work through their problems, so they can return to feeling happy and productive. If you believe you are in need of counseling, speak with your parents or another trusted adult to try getting the help you need.