School is a stressor for most of us. While we love the learning, many of us suffer through the social aspects of every class from kindergarten to university. A recent survey shows that 25 per cent of new high school students will rate their anxiety level at seven out of ten*. Here are some ways to deal with that discomfort whether you’re starting high school, middle school, university or college.
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Familiarize yourself with the geography of your school, especially if it’s new to you. Where are the washrooms? The lockers? The labs? What is the shortest route to take between classes? With your class schedule in hand, do a practice run from room to room to see where you’ll need more time to make the change. Many schools have portables; do you know which portable your class is in? How long will it take you to get from the main building to that class? Even if you attended the same school last year and the year before, chances are you’ll have some classes in new locations. Knowing where you’re going and how to get there will give you a sense of confidence even before the class begins.
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Check your supplies and organize them for easy access. If you’re still using handwritten notes in a note book, keep the subjects separate, and the notebooks with the applicable texts. Being organized means less time spent hunting down materials which means ultimately, less time spent on homework. Who’s going to argue that? One website, https://www.verywell.com/top-school-stress-relievers-for-students-3145179 has more suggestions for organizing and utilizing your study space.
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Always write assignments in one place. This could be the notes app on your cell phone or lap top or at the end of your class notes. Just be sure they are easily accessed and you won’t have to rack your brain about what assignments are due tomorrow. For tips on how to organize your homework/study area and how to approach homework and studying, getting those assignments done and done well see this article at PsychCentral.com: https://psychcentral.com/lib/top-10-most-effective-study-habits/
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Study regularly; don’t just cram before a test. Cramming seldom works. Regularly familiarizing yourself with the information is the most helpful way of learning. Talk about what you’re studying with someone else who is truly interested. If you can help someone else learn, you’ll remember it far better at exam time. For some excellent study tips try this website: http://www.youthcentral.vic.gov.au/studying-training/studying-tips-resources/top-10-study-tips
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Learn to destress yourself. At Wellcast’s website, you can learn 100 wellness techniques in 100 days. This URL will take you to the one on meditation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWIFMfEgc8A
So head back to school with confidence and determination, visualizing a successful year.
Using these tips will help you do just that.
Yours truly,
Margaret Jean.
*McGill University Research conducted by Dr. Nancy Heath.
Margaret Jean 