Stress Management for Students

Juggling the pressures of school, social life, family, extracurriculars, and maybe even a job is a lot to handle, especially for a growing teen. In 2013, the American Psychological Association conducted a study that found that teens attending school feel more stressed than adults. According to the study, “only 16 percent report that their stress level has declined in the past year — but approximately twice as many say their stress level has increased in the past year (31 percent) or believe their stress level will increase in the coming year (34 percent).”

How should students deal with stress? The study showed that “nearly half of teens (42 percent) report they are not doing enough or are not sure if they are doing enough to manage their stress.” Here are some stress management tips for students:

1. Get enough sleep. Sleep is crucial for improving your memory, judgment, mood, and overall health. It’s recommended that teens get 8-10 hours of sleep per night. Schedule a time each school night to wind down and go to sleep. This simple routine will help regulate stress and make sure you start the next day off on the right foot. Visit the National Sleep Foundation website for more information.
2. Exercise. Sports teams, running, walking the dog, getting outside — anything you can do to get active! Not only is it good for your body, “Exercise is also considered vital for maintaining mental fitness, and it can reduce stress.”
3. Express it. If you’re feeling stressed, writing about it or talking about it can be a great relief and help to center your mind. Keeping organized on paper and even writing in a journal are great ways to move all those cluttery, stressful thoughts out of your head. This is the go-to for many students who feel overwhelmed because it helps them reflect on what’s worrying them and how to deal with it. Talking to people about how you’re feeling is another great way to release stress. Just make sure you don’t get stuck complaining instead of trying to figure out how to move forward.
4. Meditate. Meditation is becoming more popular in the United States because the benefits for reducing stress are so clear. Even giving yourself five minutes to clear your mind and just let thoughts flow  — maybe when you first wake up or right before going to sleep —  can do wonders for your stress levels.
5. Make time for what you love. Whatever it is you’re passionate about, try to give yourself 30 minutes to an hour a day at least to do something you enjoy. Studies have shown that happy people are more productive. If you’re stressed about how many things are on your plate but just can’t get started, taking a break to do something you love could make you more motivated once it’s time to hit the books.

Kale B. Connerty
Boston Tutoring Services