It’s not uncommon to feel stressed. In fact, 40% of teens report feeling irritable or angry, 36% report feeling anxious or nervous and 31% report feeling overwhelmed due to stress.

School, and the plans that are made for once you’ve left school, can be contributing factors to feelings of stress and this is completely normal, but we don’t want this stress to overcome you. So, as it is Stress Awareness Month throughout April, we wanted to share our top tips to combatting this stress and dealing with it more effectively.

Get Organised

A large reason for the build-up of stress is the loss of control, or the feeling that everything is getting on top of you. This can be especially true during parts of the school year like UCAS applications or exam periods where there’s tight deadlines and responsibility to be had. The most effective technique to gaining back this control is to be organised. By managing your time better, you’ll soon see that to-do list being ticked off and your stress fading away, and you’ll be less worried by deadlines too.

Exercise More

Exercising helps do much more than just improve your fitness levels, it is actually one of the healthiest ways to be rid of stress and blow off some steam. One really simple way of getting in some exercise, as well as experiencing the outdoors and some much-needed fresh air is by walking to school. You can see just how walking to school can benefit you by clicking here.

Eat Better

Not everybody realises just how much diet can improve brain function. If you’re not fuelling your body with the right foods, the output won’t be very high either. By cutting down on sugar and unhealthy treats once you get home from school, you’re more likely to see your productivity, energy and overall mood significantly improve. Try and be rid of sugary cereals in the mornings too, as this won’t give you the fuel you need to get through the school day.

Get Enough Sleep and Rest

You might think it makes more sense to miss sleep and get your dedicated task or piece of homework done, but when you’re sleep-deprived your mood is automatically lower and it’s actually harder to get things done due to lack of motivation. Aim to get at least eight hours sleep a night in order to wake up feeling better, with higher productivity levels. You must also ensure that you give both your body and mind the rest it needs to recover so you’re not overworking yourself.  

Practise Mindfulness

Mindfulness is all about paying attention to something, slowing down and noticing what is going on. When you’re mindful, you are focused but in a much more relaxed way. That’s why we encourage our pupils to practise mindfulness techniques. It doesn’t have to be too difficult, you can learn some easy techniques here.

Remember, the staff here at school are always available to listen if you feel like something is getting too much to handle. Always talk to your teachers, and those around you, if you feel like you need a little help.