5 tips to help you de-stress during a busy school term

The school holidays are the perfect way to unwind, have some fun and put all the stress of the past term behind you, but what happens when you have to return to school after a long break?

Here are a few helpful tips and coping mechanisms which can help you to get through the coming school terms stress-free.

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1. Take time for self-care

Taking care of yourself sounds easy, but when you start over-thinking you can get confused. How can you really “take care of yourself?” It is simple! Start small. Work on your sleeping pattern. It is important to get enough sleep (even on busy school days). If you do not have time for a quick nap before you start your homework, make sure you get enough rest at night. Put down your cellphone at least an hour before bedtime and try to stay away from coffee and sweets late at night.

2. Learn to change your thinking

Many psychologists believe stress is merely a way of thinking. Let’s say you have a big assignment due, what do you do? If you’re me, you eat something, take a nap, watch some TV and finish an assignment at the last minute, driven by “number-99-panic.” Taking on new tasks like this, can cause you stress because you do not leave yourself enough time to think, focus and reflect. So the key is to schedule! Make sure you plan ahead and you will be successful and eliminate the stress before it happens.

3. Take assignments step-by-step

Much like changing the way you think and focus, work on your assignments in steps. Start with planning. Plan what you have to do, work out a time-table and get your sources ready. Step two: start summarising your work and focus on the important information you will need to use. The third and final step is easy: Sit down, grab your pen and start writing.

4. Lower your goals

Do not put too much pressure on yourself! It is okay to take things slowly. Be realistic with your goals. You do not necessarily have to work for 100 per cent or full marks, but when you do your best 100 per cent of the time, the 100 pr cent will come naturally. The key here is just to do your best every day!

5. Stay balanced during exam periods

The most important thing when it comes to coping mechanisms is to stay balanced. Make time to just sit and do nothing, listen to music, dance, watch TV or even make yourself some snacks. You can do a lot of things to get your mind off of work and relax when you need it. You can even shift your focus to some extracurricular activities: start swimming, take ballet lessons, play rugby, do anything! Just be balanced.

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