The years we spend in grade school are an important part of our lives, but they can certainly be stressful at times. Here are 5 tips to help manage the pressure of school!
1. Use an agenda to manage time. One of the most stressful things for students is keeping track of all their assignments and responsibilities throughout the school year. This becomes even more apparent for students attending middle school and beyond where they are expected to juggle multiple classes and subjects at once. Don’t try to remember assignments and due dates in your head – creating a planner will always be a better solution, and color coding your responsibilities by subject and urgency is a great way to stay organized. Click here for more info on creating a planner that works for you.
2. Leave yourself room for surprises. Although it’s easier said than done, try to not leave things to the last minute. Procrastination never helps, and as we all know – sometimes life happens! Here’s a teacher favorite: don’t put yourself in a position where your printer runs out of ink the night before an assignment is due and the office supply store is already closed. For larger projects, you definitely want to give yourself some extra breathing room just in case additional time is needed for revisions!
3. Prepare for the next day the night before. The morning before school is already inherently stressful – waking up early and scrambling to get ready is a common morning routine in many households. You can make this entire part of your day easier by packing up your materials the night before. Don’t rush in the morning and start stuffing assignments in your backpack haphazardly – this is the most common reason students forget to bring in their homework assignments!
4. Make sleep a top priority. Sleep is seriously important – without proper rest, your entire day’s rhythm gets thrown off. It’s harder to pay attention, you won’t recall as much of what you learned, and your overall academic process (whether it’s studying or completing homework) will be slowed. Getting a good night’s sleep should be a top priority for any student – in fact, if the choice is between waking up early to finish something or staying up all night, it’s always better to go to bed early to ensure you get a full night’s rest.
5. Don’t face challenges alone. If something starts to become difficult, lean on others for support. For academics, this means communicating to your teacher and parent/guardian when something doesn’t make sense. Don’t be afraid to speak up! There are numerous resources that can support students in need, but you have to take the first step. This also goes for non-academic problems – if a situation is bothering you at school or you’ve noticed a change in your mental state, make sure to tell your trusted loved ones right away.
School can certainly be a stressful time, but remember these tips to help deal with the pressures and everything should be a lot easier!
