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Written By: Smruthi Gelli
Take a campfire for example. The more stressors you add to it, the bigger the flames grow. Sometimes the fire can even get out of control when there are other unplanned forces acting on it. This is much like the human body and mind; the more negative thoughts we feed ourselves, the harder it is to control our mental health. Often, in an academic setting, especially in an overtly competitive one, it is hard to control our thoughts and emotions because we are constantly led to compare ourselves to the people who may be more successful or doing better than us.
However, it is important to first understand that every person is different, and every person has their own path to follow. Just because we feel lost, it does not mean we are not doing enough. And while it is important to always try our best, it is also important not to starve ourselves of the fun we should be able to experience. Additionally, when it comes to managing school work and extracurriculars, it really all comes down to one question: How effectively am I using my time and balancing it between an academic and home life balance? Many times it is hard to maintain this because people feel overstimulated by the amount they think they have to accomplish in the little time they have given themselves. What they do not realize is that it is in their hands to manage their academic pressures and stress in a way that does not cause them to overwork themselves.
According to the Harvard Division of Education, some tips that are recommended for managing stress in high school include keeping a journal to write down daily thoughts as an emotional outlet, exercising daily in order to help produce endorphins and reduce the possibility of negative mental health effects, eating regularly and not skipping meals, getting enough sleep to have energy for other activities, doing relaxation exercises (such as deep breathing, visualization, or meditating), and limiting caffeinated drinks. It is extremely important to keep a consistent schedule with the above habits in order to improve daily focus and prevent the scope for distractions. This will help improve productivity, making it easier to finish the days’ work in a timely manner and in turn, leaving time for other activities.
According to the Pacific Teen Treatment, research also shows that extracurriculars can actually have a positive impact on mental health because they act as healthy outlets for stress. While it is important to not take on more extracurriculars than one can manage, doing activities that we are actually passionate about and allowing us to be surrounded by minds that think alike, can provide a way to divert our focus away from school pressures. Additionally, demonstrating success in the extracurricular environment such as mastering a piece on an instrument can contribute to improving confidence and self esteem because it allows us to prove to ourselves that we are capable of achieving what we work towards. This also teaches people time management as doing so requires a person to pre plan their days and create a schedule (ex: completing homework in the morning on a Saturday, volunteering from 2-4, attending dance practice from 4:30 - 6, studying for a science test the next day, and still managing to attend family dinner at 7:30).
One of the most important parts of reducing stress in an academic setting is also making sure to maintain strong social connections. This means that no matter how busy one might be, it is important to still make time, even if it’s only a few minutes, to talk to somebody, be it a family member, a friend, or even a trusted adult. It is important to talk about topics that are not related to work but topics that allow one to have a leisure conversation. These types of positive conversations also contribute to destressing by helping boost happiness through a positive environment. Therefore, no matter how hard balancing a particular aspect of life might be, I urge us all to continue maintaining positive relationships to help create a positive mental health.
In conclusion, maintaining a consistent daily schedule, indulging in extracurriculars that exercise our passions, and maintaining strong relationships can all help one overcome academic pressure by implementing a healthier lifestyle, reducing the flames in the fire.
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