Let's be honest, that first semester senior year of high school is quite possibly the most stressful part of your high school career. Between college apps, homework, papers and tests, and sports all in the short four months that comprise the fall semester, it's no wonder that we're all at our wits end and feel absolutely fried! Now I'm no expert but I have been a victim of stress and anxiety for most of my time in high school (thank you private school for that one), so here are some of my tips and tricks for dealing with stress!
1. Make lists
I am a firm believer in making to-do lists for almost everything I do, be it appointments and errands I need to run, things we need to accomplish in a group project or before a yearbook deadline, or just my everyday workload. There are few things that makes me feel more accomplished than crossing things off a list!
2. Find something that grounds you
For me, that one thing is exercise. It's the easiest way for me to push out all of the clutter in my mind for an hour or so and release some of the tension while doing your body some good. Some people like to run, do yoga, dance, paint, or really anything that makes you happy, but the key to this I've found is consistency. You can't just do it every once and a while, get into a routine several times a week to keep your mind clear and your spirits up.
3. Get your rest
I absolutely cannot stress this enough. Sure, you may have a lot of work to do, but going to bed instead of pulling that all-nighter is ultimately going to be the better decision. If you're exhausted all day you won't retain as much and will ultimately be even more stressed later because of it. Your mental health is so much more important than one bad grade.
4. Learn that it's okay to say no
I am a terrible offender of not saying no to people when they ask me to do something for them and I end up spreading myself way too thin. Learn what you can take on within reason and hold yourself to that. If you're biting off more than you can chew you won't produce your best work and will be too busy to focus on things that make you happy.
5. Know that it's okay to be stressed
Stress and anxiety is a part of life. Unfortunately, some of us have a harder time dealing with it than others, but everyone goes through that. One of the hardest things for me to deal with is seeing friends who seem absolutely perfect do great in a class that I'm struggling with (see: that one time last week I cried before taking an art history test), but I've discovered that they're just as stressed as I am, they just don't let it show as much.
I hope you all are having a wonderful fall!
xx
