As the new year begins, this also means the approach of many worrying events, such as starting the next semester of school, the start of the season for many sports, preparing for AP exams, and even graduation for some. With so much going on within the next four months, many forget to take care of their mental well-being. Here are some ways you can take care of yourself during this stressful time. 

 Tip #1: Take breaks. It’s a basic method, but is also heavily neglected. Whether it’s studying or doing homework, it is important to set aside time for your brain to rest, even if that is just five minutes. Something helpful to do during your break could be stretching or walking, just getting your body moving will help you feel more awake and ready to take on your next assignment. You just might find yourself working better and more efficiently after taking a break rather than spending ten minutes on a question because your brain is just too exhausted to think.

Tip #2: Get enough sleep. This is an issue that is very prevalent in students, a lot of the time relating to academics. Sleep is so important because it can affect your mental stability a lot more than you may think. Lack of sleep can cause anxiety, fatigue, and even mood changes. Additionally, being deprived of sleep may affect your ability to learn. While many students spend late nights on studying or finishing homework, those efforts may go to waste since it becomes more difficult to retain information from memory while exhausted. Spending less time studying to get a good night’s rest may better the chances of you memorizing the material and doing well on a test. For students, it would be best to get 8-9 hours of sleep to ensure enough energy to get through the day. 

Tip #3: Manage your time. A skill that many high school students unfortunately lack is their ability to properly manage their time. Between homework, sports, and other extracurriculars, going through the day with no plan will make it more difficult to get things done; especially since many students tend to procrastinate on their work. A good way to manage your time would be something like a binder to write down assignments to get done for the day, or even better, a calendar that lists out your schedule for each day of the month to keep you on track with both homework and extracurriculars. A lot of the time, lack of proper time management is what leads to sleep deprivation and procrastination. By making time for yourself and your work, you may end up sleeping better and procrastinating less.

Tip #4: Social outings. Even if you’re staying inside every day to study or rest, it is beneficial to go outside every now and then, even if it is just something simplistic like going out to eat or going shopping. Going out allows the mind to rest and divert your thoughts away from what may be stressing you out. Whether it is with friends or family, it is beneficial to go outside and take a break from that environment you regularly study, sleep, and eat in.

In the midst of preparing for AP exams and graduation, I asked Hermela Berhane, a senior at Saugus High school who is currently taking five AP classes, how she takes care of her mental health during these stressful periods. She states, “To take care of my mental health, I take breaks from studying, take walks outside, and hang out with my friends.” Berhane values the importance of taking care of her mental health because it affects her mood, specifically with self-care and socializing: “Taking care of your mental health is important because it’s the same as taking care of your physical health. How you are mentally reflects how you are physically.”