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Keeping It Real
When it comes to dealing with school stress, the most important thing
to remember is to keep it real! Learn what stress is, what it isn't,
and what it can do if you choose to let it rule your life. Here are
some facts to help you keep it real!
What Stress Is
Stress is can be combination of both your schedule and schoolwork. Notice
whether your schedule allows you enough time to get all your schoolwork
done or whether you need to budget your time better to accomplish all
your assignments. If finding time to get your schoolwork done seems
almost impossible, plan to find a quiet place (like a library or study
hall) to spend the first hour or two after school to do your homework.
If scheduling is not the problem and the schoolwork is too difficult
for you, plan to spend the first few hours after school in your teacher's
classroom or a study hall to get the tutoring you need! Avoiding budgeting
your time or asking for help may be unnecessarily increasing your stress
level at school.
What Stress Isn't
The schedule and the schoolwork that may be causing you stress is not
something to lose sleep over or get so upset over that you can't eat.
If you're disturbing your sleeping patterns or your eating patterns,
or if you're impairing your ability to concentrate at home, a change
is in order. Talk with your parents, counselors, and teachers to come
up with a schedule that you can actually follow and homework assignments
that you can realistically accomplish. You may need some help with budgeting
your time better, or you might need to take a class that is less demanding.
What Stress Can Do
If you are not in control of your stress, your stress will be in control
of you. If you do not learn to budget your schedule and your assignments,
your stress level will continue to rise with the increased number of
homework assignments and hectic pace of your life. High levels of stress
can reduce your ability to concentrate, cause drowsiness or fatigue,
and make it very difficult for you to function throughout the day. You
can prevent these things from happening by maintaining an organized
schedule that includes time for homework and by choosing to take courses
that are not too demanding.
Dealing with It!
Now that you're keeping it real, you need to know how to deal with the
stress that school can have on you. Check out these easy ways to deal
with the pressures of school.
Maintain Perspective
Remember, the world will not end if you do not finish all your homework
assignments perfectly or if you are a little late with handing in an
assignment on a rare occasion. No homework assignment is so important
that you should lose sleep or make yourself sick over it. If you find
yourself overly stressed about simple assignments, repeat: "It
is only a homework assignment." Focus on doing your homework to
the best of your ability instead of doing it perfectly.
Get Organized!
You can reduce your school stress by becoming more organized. Make sure
that all your books are labeled and that you have plenty of supplies
such as paper, pens, notebooks, and calculators. Also organize your
coursework so that you have a different folder for each class; this
will help to keep your assignments clear and help you to find your information
more quickly when you are doing your homework. A lack of organization
can cause you needless stress and can make you take you longer to complete
your assignments.
Betcha Didn't Know
A lack of organization is what stresses out many students and prevents
them from beginning and accomplishing schoolwork.
Prioritize
Prioritize your schoolwork. Notice what date each of your assignments
are due, and estimate how much time each assignment will take you to
complete. Then prioritize your work. Make sure that the assignments
that are due immediately and the larger assignments that require more
work (like a term paper) are at the top of your list. Be sure to work
on the assignments in the order that you have them written down. When
you prioritize your work, you will be less likely to fall behind in
your school work and will be more likely to hand in your assignments
on time. You'll also feel much more relaxed!
Maintain Your Focus
Stay focused on your assignments, and do not allow yourself to get distracted
by the radio, TV, the Internet, or friends. Be sure that the place you
have chosen to do your homework has very few, if any, distractions so
that you will not be interrupted and can devote your time and attention
to your work. Maintain your focus so that you can complete your assignments
and avoid feeling stressed about not finishing your work later.
Learn to Say "No"
Learn to say "no" when you already have a very full academic
schedule. If your friends or family ask you to do something that will
conflict with getting your assignments finished, explain to them that
you unfortunately have to say "no" even though you would like
to say "yes" because it would interfere with completing your
school work. You might be surprised at how understanding and sympathetic
your friends and family will be.
Get Extensions
If at all possible, ask your teacher for an extension. Ask if you can
have a little extra time to complete your homework. Your teacher may
allow you to turn in your homework late for either a grade lower than
you would have received on your assignment or without lowering your
grade at all if you do not make it a habit of turning in late work.
Betcha Didn't Know
Asking for an occasional extension is permissible to some teachers as
long as it does not become a habit and the reason for an extension is
not due to poor planning or laziness. If you absolutely need an extension
because of an emergency situation, speak up! Ask for help and get an
extension.
Remember, even if your teacher insists on lowering your grade on your
assignment for turning in late work, any credit is better than no credit
at all!
Stress-Busters
Sometimes, dealing with the stress of school just isn't enough. Sometimes
you need some slammin' ways to wrap up your school work so you can get
your groove on and start kickin' it with your friends. Here's how to
bust your stress so you can get out the door and bust a move with your
homies. Check out the 411 ...
Take Breaks
Take breaks! You'll find that you will be able to think more clearly
and have more energy if you take breaks every 45 minutes to an hour
when you are doing your homework. Get up and stretch, take a short walk,
or get a drink of water. A 5- to 10-minute break will help you feel
refreshed and ready to complete your assignments.
Use Teamwork
Put together a study group of your classmates so that you do not have
to study alone. You will find that when you work together as a team,
everyone will accomplish more in a shorter amount of time. Ask your
teacher if it would be okay for you and your classmates to work together
on some of your homework assignments.
Delegate, If You Can
If you have your teacher's permission to work together as a group, choose
one particular part of the assignment to focus on and then delegate
the rest. For instance, if you are giving an oral presentation about
the most interesting people in the last century, choose one person to
learn about and then delegate the rest of the assignment to those in
your group. This way you will learn about something you are interested
in, complete your assignment, and have time left over for your other
assignments and social activities.
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