Whether you are an overwhelmed freshman still trying to figure out high school, or a senior who is nearing the graduation finish line, exam season is intense for all students. However, the stress that students feel is not limited to exams; other daily circumstances such as sports, friends, family or even mental health issues can cause students to feel added pressure and possible burn out. In fact, a recent study shows over 75% of high school students experience anxiety, depression, anger and fear daily during exam season. Additionally, another study conducted in 2021 marked suicide as the world’s third leading cause of death among high school students with over 1,952 deaths in a rate of 9.0 per 100,000 youths. Living in a society that can put an over-emphasis on grades, class rank and college choice is not easy; especially when teenage students were made for so much more. Instead of hyper-focusing on spring exams, finish this year strong by focusing on these 5 priorities.
1.Live offline and outside
Though we often hear our parents say, “There’s more to life than a screen,” we don’t take it seriously. A recent study done on teenagers who felt the freedom of being offline and experiencing nature shows 87% of youth wanted to prioritize spending further time outdoors. “Although I don’t normally spend all my time outside, when I do it feels nice to disconnect from my phone,” says junior Aubrey Johnston.
Additionally, in a 2018 survey done by the American Psychology Association, 57% of those who returned to work or school after a vacation felt happier than those who had not taken a trip. Although schoolwork is vital to a student’s education and requires much of their time, not occasionally taking the time to step outside or take a break from your indoor environment can leave teenagers deprived of the vitamin D their brains need to properly function. Whether it means completing your math homework under the sunlight or enjoying a coffee break with your friend after school, try prioritizing at least 30 minutes outside each day.
2.Prioritizing relationships
Whether it’s a friend, partner or a family member, it is important to socialize and spend quality time with others outside of the classroom. During school hours, try joining clubs, sports or finding new people to sit with during lunch. Outside of school, connections can also be found through church groups, volunteer groups or even the gym. Finding a person you enjoy being and connecting with can have benefits such as an increase in a sense of belonging which has a direct effect on socialization skills. Additionally, surround yourself with people who are encouraging and push you to be your best. Junior Selah Sweet says, “My friend group always helps me take a step back from my schoolwork and provides more focus towards something besides a perfect GPA.”
3.Volunteering for others
With constant academic pressure, students are often immersed in their own goals, lacking time to do the same for others. Whether is’s volunteering to run your school’s blood drive or simply assisting a teacher with decluttering their classroom, helping someone out not only makes one feel good, but also allows teenagers to take a moment helping others reach their goals as well. “Volunteering gives me a break from all the school stress and helps me focus on something positive; It’s nice to know I am making some sort of difference,” says senior Teineesa Calventas.
4.Pursue a hobby
Often times, because students devote most of their time towards grades and classwork, the aspect of “enjoying your youth” is often forgotten or overlooked. While procrastinating classwork is not beneficial, taking breaks for yourself in between is. “When school feels stressful, I love going to church and school Bible studies as well as volunteering for HOSA during the week,” says freshman Abby Honeycutt. Finding a hobby that is unique to you personally is important in balancing school and a social life. Whether it’s a club, sports team at school, or a church group outside of the classroom, doing something you enjoy is key to taking a break from academics.
5.Focus on you and your health
Receiving a bad grade or forgetting to do an assignment can feel frustrating, but so can beating yourself up about it. Students are often so focused on turning in a project before its due date or studying for college acceptance exams that important factors such as a full night of sleep, proper eating habits and taking time for oneself are overlooked. “I like to pace myself, spread out what school work I have and give myself time to do things I enjoy like watching my favorite shows,” says junior Emma Cain. Prioritize more immediate things like your mental health before school. Without these running factors, students are unable to be the best version of themselves.
Sources:
Bouchrika, I. (n.d.). 50 current Student Stress Statistics: 2024 data, Analysis & Predictions | research.com. Research.com. https://research.com/education/student-stress-statistics
Jensen, M. (2024, August 27). Vacations and mental health. Charlie Health. https://www.charliehealth.com/research/vacations-mental-health#:~:text=In%20its%202018%20survey%20of,with%20more%20energy%20(66%25).
Verlenden, J. (2024, October 8). Mental health and suicide risk among high school students and protective factors – youth risk behavior survey, United States, 2023. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/73/su/su7304a9.htm
Zamora, A. N., Waselewski, M. E., Frank, A. J., Nawrocki, J. R., Hanson, A. R., & Chang, T. (2021, August 23). Exploring the beliefs and perceptions of spending time in nature among U.S. youth. BMC public health. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8381719/#:~:text=Results,impeding%20them%20from%20doing%20so.
