While not everyone in high school may take the same rigorous classes or participate in the same activities, what many students do have in common is the experience of stress. As the pressure to be overly successful in high schools continues to rise, student’s anxiety and stress levels rise as well. High school, especially during junior and senior year, can be stressful. With the constant pressure to do well, students are faced with constant stress and anxiety. 

As the always dreaded finals week approaches, students need to take the initiative to focus on their mental health during these stressful times. Here are five ways you can relieve stress, to improve not only your performance in school but also generally help with mental health.

1. Getting Enough Sleep

What many students don’t realize is that receiving the most adequate amount of sleep can reduce your stress. Personally, I find that the nights I get less sleep make me less focused at school and it is harder for me to perform well. Sleep is the most important thing you can do to regulate stress. Even with our time-cosuming schedules, it is important that students still take time for themselves to receive the most sleep possible. It is recommended that we receive seven to nine hours of sleep each night. Getting enough sleep will allow you to notice a difference in the amount of stress you experience, and also your performance in schoolwork. 

2. Meditation

Another thing that students often overlook to help reduce their stress is meditation. Meditating triggers the body’s relaxation response, which is the opposite of how the body responds to stress. Meditating has many benefits, some of them including increasing patience and tolerance, reducing stress and anxiety, and reducing negative emotions. One way is to take even a few minutes out of your day to watch online meditation videos. Ultimately, meditating can be very helpful for students lowering their stress. 

3. Exercise

While taking the time to exercise has physical benefits, it also reduces the body’s stress hormones. Exercise increases the endorphins in our brains that improve your mood and make you happier. Even with loads of schoolwork, taking even fifteen minutes out of your day to go on a walk can help you clear your mind and make you feel much better. 

4. Do things that make you happy

Doing things that you enjoy are proven to lower stress levels and improve your mood. Even after those long eight-hour school days, it is important to find activities that can take your mind off of those worries. For me, I love to hangout with my friends, family, and dance team. I also love to take my dog for walks which help me reduce my stress.

5. Healthy eating habits

Having a balanced diet gives you the proper amount of energy you need to deal with stressful situations. Eating healthier has been proven to lower cortisol levels according to Harvard University. Although it may be difficult, try your best to eat healthy foods like fruits and vegetables as it not only is good for your body, it’s effective in reducing levels of stress. 

While stress for high school students is unavoidable, it is important to recognize what helps you reduce your feelings of anxiety and stress. Everyone will feel stress at some point in their life, so it is important to do your best to lower your stress levels to avoid other issues that correlate with it. Remember that most students feel the same as you, and you are not alone!