By Klea Gjergji ’23
As the school year progresses, the month of January brings many stressful and anxiety-causing events that can be tough to overcome. Such events may include midterms, the end of second quarter, and the rising amount of COVID cases in school. Poll 1 shows that 91.3% of students in the school are struggling with stress or anxiety. Poll 2 specifically shows that 19% of students feel that they are stressed about midterms; additionally, 61.9% struggle with the end of 2nd quarter, and 19% have anxiety about rising COVID cases. During these times of challenge, it’s important to mentally take care of yourself. Here are some tips to help maintain a healthy state of mind:
GET SUFFICIENT SLEEP
According to a CDC study, the majority of high school students are getting less hours of sleep than the recommended amount. It’s proven that students should get the proper amount of sleep at night to help stay focused, improve concentration, and improve academic performance. Try to aim for at least 8-10 hours of sleep per night to relieve stress and stay on top of school tasks.
KEEP TRACK USING AN AGENDA
Having an agenda can help keep homework and school work organized so that it’s impossible to miss due dates. This can lead to good time management skills; once you are made aware of your tasks, time can be set aside to complete them, and it can eventually eliminate the stress of procrastination.
GET SUPPORT FROM THOSE AROUND YOU
Having supportive relationships around you, whether it’s with friends, family, or teachers, is essential when you need someone to talk to. A strong support system can offer you solutions and even keep you company through tough times. Our school also has a guidance department that will offer help and support whenever it is needed.
TAKE A BREAK FROM ELECTRONICS
Almost everything has changed from paper to being online due to certain circumstances. Being on electronic devices and staring at a screen all day has proven to be very detrimental to mental and physical well-being. Instead of spending hours looking at a screen, try reading a book, talking to loved ones, or writing in a journal.
CDC Source: https://www.cdc.gov/healthyschools/sleep.htm
