3 Tips For High School Students To Help With Stress Management
It is not uncommon for high school students to feel both daily pressure and more chronic stress, and in recent studies done by the American Psychological Association (APA), it is notable that the rates of students feeling stressed is increasing year-over-year. In fact, a highlighted example from the APA found that teens, in particular, are currently reporting stress levels (as of 2021) similar to that of adults.
Teens are experiencing increasing levels of chronic stress in today’s world, too, and a major concern is that the stress levels could overwhelm most students’ abilities to naturally cope in effective and healthy ways. Stress, as many people are already aware, can also affect numerous aspects of physical health, leading to a variety of related medical concerns.
The month of May has been designated Mental Health Awareness Month, and as we focus on mental health as a society with observations in the media, local events, and film screenings, it is important to also discuss how students can stress less while in high school and get ahead, too. So, let’s take a close look at some recommended stress managements tips.
Enrollment Is Open!
Tip #1: Be sure to get enough sleep, to stress less in high school.
When people get busy, one of the first things that gets sacrificed in a schedule are the hours of sleep we set aside for ourselves. This is true of both teens and working adults. But, operating in a sleep-deprived state just means that a person has fewer natural reserves of mind and body to manage the stress. Without enough sleep, high school students become less productive and less able to concentrate on their studies. And, all of this ultimately just leads to even more stress. It is important for high school students to aim for 7-9 hours of uninterrupted sleep per night, and to stick to a routine sleep schedule. There should be no screen time for about an hour or more before bedtime. Cool, dark rooms are often easier to sleep in, for many people, and a weighted blanket can help with symptoms of nighttime anxiety.
Tip #2: It is important to exercise every day, to stress less in high school.
The specific type of exercise isn’t as important as the regularity of getting physical activity. High school students can engage in walking, hiking, biking, yoga, swimming, and going to the gym. Study after study shows that exercise is one of the very best ways to blow off steam, clear the mind, and help induce a more regimented sleep cycle… all of which lowers daily stress levels and boosts productivity.
Tip #3: Make sure to create clear and realistic goals, to stress less in high school.
Many high school students have a mixture of both vague and specific concerns that typically focus around three main life areas, according to “Psychology Today.” Those three main areas are:
· relationships with peers (both online and offline)
· family issues (a diverse category)
· schoolwork and getting into college and/or a particular career field
It is important to address stressors like these with a concise and realistic plan of action, which can then lead to beneficial goals. Having a plan with a reachable goal can greatly reduce stress and anxiety. The more specific (SMART) the plan, then the better it usually is for the student’s life experience and stress levels.
In closing, there are some revealing statistics about mental health to keep in mind this month, as we all consider ways in which to make improvements…
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, “rates of childhood mental health concerns and suicide rose steadily between 2010 and 2020, and by 2018 suicide was the second leading cause of death for youth ages 10-24.” Also, the APA noted in a 2020 survey of 1,000 parents around the country, which was facilitated by the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, that “71% of parents said the pandemic had taken a toll on their child’s mental health, and 69% said the pandemic was the worst thing to happen to their child. A national survey of 3,300 high schoolers conducted in the spring of 2020 found close to a third of all students felt unhappy and depressed much more than usual."
Let’s keep mental health front and center, as we move forward into greater levels of personal productivity!
Want more information on managing stress, as a high school student? Be sure to check out the on-demand webinar, Tips For Dealing With Social Anxiety.
Check out the latest tips on Balancing Work And High School, from a Stride Career Prep Success Coach, too!
To find out more about Stride Career Prep’s online programs, visit the site: https://www.stridelearning.com/career-prep.html
Is your child ready for the future?
Make sure your student is ready for life after high school.
Meet a Leader in online education.
See why over two million students have chosen Stride K12-powered schools.