Beating Back-to-School Stress

There is nothing quite like that particular brand of stress common to students as they get ready to go back to school come September. Starting from the moment you receive your schedule, a thousand questions demand to be answered: Is taking physics really necessary? How will you ever fit in four core courses and volunteer for the local soup kitchen? How on earth can you make a sports team on the second day of school? Bear in mind that back-to-school stress cannot last forever, and that sooner or later, you’ll get everything figured out.

Remembering how to balance school, sports, work and extracurricular activities is something that takes time and effort. Also, the transition from the lazy days and late nights of summer to a regimented school schedule is not an easy adjustment. Going from 14-hour sleeps to a mere eight hours is another added source of stress. Your body actually physically needs time to adjust to your new schedule, but you need to remember that it will adapt.

You can make sure that you don’t get too overwhelmed with stress by staying organized, balanced and aware of yourself. Get organized right away. Use your agenda or the calendar on your phone to keep all of your activities in order. Maintain balance in your lifestyle as well. Prioritize between school, sports and extracurricular activities and don’t spend too much time on any one thing.

And take time for yourself – enjoy an Earl Grey tea or an invigorating workout to take your mind off the stress. The start of a new school year is a fresh start, a chance to do everything you missed out on last year. So don’t stress about the start of school – instead, embrace and enjoy it.