The first day back to school greeted Saugus students with large crowds, laughter in the air, and excitement! While there was a positive energy among many, a common feeling going around was stress. Anxiety and worry is common with students throughout the school year, and the first few months can be full of those feelings. There are many strategies and mechanisms that students can use to cope with feelings of stress.
One thing that can help students feel a little more stress-free is falling into a good sleep schedule. Getting enough rest helps people feel energized and prepared for the day. Since school starts so early, it’s important to go to bed early to ensure that you will be ready for the following morning. Studies have shown that kids with organized sleep schedules focus, learn, and feel better! Feeling tired can add more stress, and being a student requires you to be present, so being well rested makes a huge positive impact. We interviewed Camsey Chioke who said “If I sleep for 8+ hours, I’ll go through all of my classes without having feelings of drowsiness, and the class I’m in will have my undivided attention.” Focusing in class is extremely important in a student’s educational career, and when you are not well rested, giving your full attention can be troublesome and cause you to fall behind.
Another great way to deal with stress is to put your best effort into school work. If you know you’re doing well, it’ll lessen feelings of frustration and worry! When you allow yourself to understand and take in what you’re being taught, you will most likely see a huge decrease in stress. Not being able to understand material is one thing that can be worked on, however purposefully not paying attention can do serious damage. It’s fulfilling to know that you are doing well with your work which can encourage you to continue to try. We also interviewed Radha K. Sager who notes that “Trying to excel in my classes betters my stress levels. It is when I am productive that I feel most accomplished and fulfilled.” When you’re producing your best work, you’re helping yourself to minimize stress. Radha also mentioned that “When I am not trying in my classes or procrastinating is when I get stressed out and worried.” Actively participating in class can make you feel good about yourself and proud of your work. Bad grades and a bad reputation can spike stress, so doing well can significantly reduce it.
One more very significant way to cope with back to school stress is to reach out to friends, family, and staff if you find yourself in a hard time. It’s incredibly important to know that us students do not have to struggle alone! Even if you think your problems aren’t that big, it’s healthy to seek support when you think that you need it. Bearing the burden of bad feelings alone can be heavy, so having someone to lean on can greatly help to lessen stress. Camsey explained that seeking a listening ear “…makes me feel less alone in my dilemma and gives me a little fence of support. Reaching out to others also gives me reassurance that what I’m feeling isn’t invalid and is a perfectly normal human emotion.” Being fearful of reaching out to others can further isolate you and increase feelings of anxiety and unease. Talking to others about struggles can create stronger bonds, a safe house, better understanding of each other and yourself, and most importantly decrease stress!
Having feelings of stress when going back to school is very common. If students take the steps to feeling more confident and comfortable while going through difficult times, then things can get so much better in the future! It’s important to know that you don’t just have to put up with these feelings. You can use a large variety of plans and mechanisms to tackle your stress and minimize it!
