Positive Thoughts, Positive Life

School Stress

Before I commence this "chapter," I want to point out that I understand what it's like to deal with the pressures of school. The stress of staying up to revise, of completing homework; these feelings are not foreign. Over the years, I have learnt a few things, both through conversations with people I respect and my own mistakes.

First and foremost, education should be a human right, yet this is not consistently the case. There are many millions that do not receive this basic right, therefore the fundamental basis has in some ways become a privilege. Being educated is the key to success, but more so the key to continual progression of humanity. Therefore if you receive it, value it. There's an old saying that goes, "Education is power." Truly, it is. The things you learn serve a greater purpose than just to pass a test or exam. Education serves the ability to build communities, to save people and to continue evolving. So while my stance is not 100% pro-school in all that it makes me do, the importance of education is not lost to me. It shouldn't be lost to you, either.

Self care: In the midst of exams or finals, neglecting basic health and hygiene is somewhat common. Skipping out on meals and staying up late to get a good grade are common practices. In fact, it is uncommon to not do one of the two at some point in your schooling life. The basic fact is that skipping out on these necessities (yes, you actually do need to sleep) will do a mountain of harm compared to losing a few hours of revision. In all you do, you need your brain function to be optimal. Compromising this function means what you do end up revising is done half-heartedly, and the information is not being stored in your long term memory. In other words, you are wasting your own time. Health comes first, above all. Do the basics, then move on to studying.

Manage your time: I know, we have heard this over and over. I hate to repeat it, but this key skill is the difference between success and failure. Putting off homework is something we do subconsciously, so changing that mindset is no easy feat. On a regular basis, ensure you are completing school work. If you have a large project due, work on it each day so you can take your time to perfect it. A good tip is to do the hardest things first so you allow yourself more time to understand and complete them. Even if you cannot allocate a straight hour for work, take little opportunities in your day when you are simply wasting time, sitting idle. Perhaps you are waiting for the bus or watching a pointless advertisement drone on. Whip out your summary sheet or flash cards and read over them, so as to be prepared before an exam and not overwhelmed with content.

Schedules: Perhaps tedious, but useful nevertheless. A diary or a planner is useful in jotting down the work you need to complete and important dates. Anything that will allow you to tick things off as you go and is easily accessible will stop you having to remember a million things. Take this form of organisation to every lesson and refer back to it continually. Having a timetable on your locker door is the most useful thing in keeping you organised. A wall calendar with deadlines is a bright idea if you are notorious for forgetting due dates.

Be realistic: The desire to do well can literally consume us in a way that is damaging and unhealthy. From experience, it becomes more of a disservice to care less than to care too much. There is undoubtedly a point where things go too far. If you feel yourself reaching this point, stop and take a breather. Not all of us will make it to Harvard, not all of us will be athletes and not all of us will get our "dream jobs." BUT, all of us can still be happy, regardless. If you have too much on your plate, consider dropping some extra-curricular activities. You can do a lot, but you cannot do it all. At the end of the day, life goes on. School ends at a point, but life keeps going.

Self-induced stress: Indeed, this stress is the worst type. You are entirely in control, making it a nightmare to battle. When it comes to high expectations, most of us hold the highest of ourselves. The extreme pressure- it comes from ourselves. There is no easy solution to change the way you think, but there are a few things to remember. Realise that life is actually a lot bigger than your school performance. Those elderly people you see, with years of wisdom, they are living definitions of life. They stumbled, they tripped, they fell face first; yet, they got up and kept going. Now, in their retirement, life is a joy to them. Each day is a blessing and an opportunity to experience new things, in a more relaxed circumstance than school-life. We have a long way to get to that level of contentment, but that is where we need to get at some point. That point is life.

Make time for things and people you love: As stated above, the world life does not constitute to the word school. Life does not equal school; rather, school is a segment of what equals life. There are many more parts of the life circle, with loved ones and hobbies making up a large fraction. It is important (if not essential) to have something that will make you happy in any situation. When emotions start to make you feel caved in, turn to this hobby and/or person. If it's a person, make time to talk to them and be in their company. If it is a physical hobby like painting, take time to pursue it with nothing driving you except your love for what you are doing.

Remember: School is not the end-all-be-all of anyone's life. A lack of success in school does not mean a failed life. There are always options, so do not allow yourself to drown in stress and be the undoing of your own future. Make time for what you love as a strategy of stress relief. Stay organised and keep on top of things to eliminate feelings of worry come exam time. Put in the effort, but never compromise your health in the process. Above all, there is more to life than school.