**This post is an adaptation of an article found elsewhere on our website. We decided to post it on our blog to ensure that more of our members would be able to see it! Stress. It seems like it can be everywhere, especially in high school. And it’s no wonder- it’s hard to balance school, activities, sports, jobs, and relationships. A bit of stress is a good thing; it often makes you stronger and helps you manage stress better later on. However, too much stress can be detrimental to your physical and mental health. Everyone has their own journey with stress and everyone manages it in different ways, but there are a few things that can help all of us reduce stress and live healthier lives. Many of us at Astudia have experienced stress and have learned to manage it. Here are a few things we’ve realized during our journeys that may help you manage yours.

Image Credit: Cedars-Sinai
You need to recognize that your health should be your top priority and is more important than your stressor. If you’re feeling overwhelmed and unwell because of an extracurricular, for example, stop whatever you are doing and take a few deep breaths. Ground yourself and ask yourself, ‘is this activity worth it?’ If the answer is no, reevaluate whether or not you want to continue the extracurricular. If a person is stressing you out constantly, ask yourself, ‘what does this person bring to my life? Is my relationship with them worth feeling stressed?’ Asking yourself these questions can help clear your head and improve your mental health.
Meditation can be really helpful. A lot of people are skeptical about meditation because they think it sounds stupid or cliche. However, a good meditation app can help you relax, ground yourself, be more productive, focus more, and stress less! Taking three minutes to focus on your surroundings, take a deep breath and let your stress melt away is incredibly helpful. You’ll feel more refreshed, less stressed, and ready to tackle the day! (Some great meditation apps include Headspace, Insight Timer, Unplug, Aura, and Mindfulness Daily. Search for them on the App Store/Google Play!)
Sometimes, taking a break is the best thing you can do. If you’re stressed out because of a certain activity or assignment, taking a quick 15-30 minute break can help. While you take this break, do something you love. You can take a nap, take a shower, cook something, go biking, draw, or watch an episode of your favorite Netflix show. The important thing is that you don’t think about what’s stressing you out for at least 30 minutes. Focus your attention on something other than the stressor. These breaks are fun and a good distraction, and they also give your body and mind time to relax. Give it a try, and you’ll see. You’ve earned it.
Talk to your friends! Nobody understands the stress of a high schooler better than another high schooler. Talking to your friends (about what’s bothering you or about anything in general) can help you clear your head and boost your mood. Many of us miss our friends- in these challenging times, we haven’t been able to see them very often. That’s why this can also be a great chance to reconnect!
These are just a few of many methods that can help you decrease your stress to be more focused, cheerful, and productive. Trying one or more of these tips could really help you stress less and laugh more! We hope they’ll help you as much as they’ve helped us manage our stress. If you have any tips or ideas to manage stress that you’d like us to include on our website, please email us at astudiateam@gmail.com, and we’ll do our best to reply!
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