School can sometimes add unwanted stress to a student’s life. For National Stress Awareness Day, we wanted to discuss ways to reduce stress in school, provide different methods of dealing with stress and to make our students aware of what is available to them in school to combat these feelings and improve their mental health.
1. Take a break.
When you feel overwhelmed it is a good idea to recharge and take a break. This can help to alleviate any stress and often is a good way to solve problems. By stepping away from an issue you may be facing, you can gain a different perspective, a new way of thinking about it. Our Progress Schools Lilford offers the perfect reprieve from day-to-day stress with the Cubbie. This is a sensory regulation space to help students create their own personalised environment, with different choices of music and scenery, to create the ultimate calming atmosphere.
2. Talk to someone.
Stress can often feel all-consuming. By talking to someone you trust about what is troubling you, you can often relieve some of your built-up stress. A problem shared is a problem halved. Don’t suffer in silence, if there is something on your mind, talk to a friend or member of staff. You may feel that they can’t do anything to help the situation, but sometimes talking about it can help remove a lot of the stress of the situation. At Progress Schools, our staff are always available for 1:1 chats whenever a student may need one. Don’t hesitate to ask!
3. Do a brain dump.
Sometimes when you are stressed, it is difficult to focus. It can feel as though your brain is overloaded with information. One way to combat this is to make a mind map or a list of everything you can think of that is troubling you or you need to do. This gets all the information from your brain and onto the page and will make you feel a lot better.
4. Get moving.
Exercise is one of the number one ways to reduce stress. When you exercise, your body releases endorphins, this is a hormone that makes you feel happy, and reduces the production of Cortisol, the body’s stress hormone. By taking some time to get active you can improve your mood and de-stress. This means only 20-30 minutes of movement a day can help you get back to feeling ready to learn.
5. Ask questions.
The unknown can be a stressful thing. It can feel stressful and embarrassing to not know the answer to a question in a lesson or to feel confused about a subject. The best way to minimise stress in this situation is to simply ask. By asking a teacher or member of staff and letting them know that you don’t understand something is the fastest way to eliminating your stress and resolving the problem.
6. Stay organised.
Prevention is a great technique to avoid stress. By organising your workload, managing your time, or making sure you have everything you need for your school day, you can avoid the common stresses that you may face the next day.
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