Is School Causing You Stress?

I have been working this year with Riverbend High School Senior Abigail Williams on 
her Commonwealth Governor’s School Culminating Project.  The focus of this project 
is working through procrastination.  I am going to present Abby’s research in a two 
blog series.  This is part two of two.

By Nina Parrish with tips and research by Abigail Williams

This is a stressful time of year for many students. SOL testing is beginning, the nine weeks grading period is coming to an end, and many high school students are preparing to take SAT and ACT testing. We all experience stress at one time or another due to how we perceive or respond to certain events or stressors in our lives that we identify as challenging or threatening. However, learning to manage stress can be a critical skill for students because chronic stress is linked to ailments such as:

• Fatigue
• Back and neck tension
• Poor concentration
• Decreased ability to learn
• Decreased self-esteem
• Increased procrastination

Students can be taught to manage stress through a variety of lifestyle changes and relaxation techniques. If your child is feeling stressed, encouraging them to adopt a healthier lifestyle, may help them to feel better both physically and mentally. This includes:

• Making sure to eat a balanced diet which includes lots of fruits and vegetables and less caffeine and junk food.
• Sleeping at least 8 hours a night.
• Doing moderate exercise at least three times per week.

Relaxation techniques can also be very beneficial to students who are feeling stressed. You can encourage your child to find relaxation through participation in activities that they enjoy such as a sport, music or art. They may also benefit from meditation techniques or even relaxation websites like calm.com. The important part is to teach your child to reward themselves after a period of hard work with something that they enjoy, plan out their time so that they are not creating stress with procrastination and make sure that they are taking care of themselves by eating right and getting enough sleep.