Written by Michelle Nguyen
Edited by Jocelyn Nguyen
Summer is coming to an end, marking the inevitable return to school.
Whether your school is reopening its doors for in-person instruction or starting with distance learning, it is vital to be mindful of how this may affect your mental health.
Amid the global pandemic and tragic events occurring in the world, you may be feeling overwhelmed, restless, or paranoid. Social distancing, although beneficial in slowing the spread of the highly contagious COVID-19, may isolate you from your loved ones and may cause you to feel helpless and unmotivated to learn. To help maintain positive mental health, it is crucial to develop coping mechanisms that suit your needs and personality. Below are some tips and proven ways to reduce your stress and anxiety while staying active with your schoolwork and within your community!
Graphic made by Liana Le, from Arts for Relief
To start off the school year feeling positive, begin by developing a routine.
According to Northwestern Medicine, “People are creatures of habit, and routines offer a way to promote health and wellness through structure and organization.” By developing personalized routines at home, students can complete their tasks effectively, and receive a sense of satisfaction and productivity as a result. Additionally, following a scheduled routine has proven to help improve sleep, stress levels, and health. An affordable and accessible resource that can be found in stores are planners, which help with organization and meeting deadlines. By writing down your assignments, due dates, or even thoughts for the day, you can more easily remember to complete your tasks. This will lead you to perform better in school, too, as procrastination becomes less of an issue when following a schedule.
Along with maintaining a schedule, knowing when to reach out for help is also essential for positive mental health and success.
As stated by Anne Pereira from Psych Central, “It is time to get creative! Find ways to stay connected to friends, family, and your child’s school while you are at home.” Despite how social distancing leads to less social interaction with peers outside of your home, technology and websites are available to aid you by substituting physical communication with virtual communication. In addition to this, students can also seek help from classmates and teachers through platforms such as email or Zoom; communicating regularly with your teachers will help avoid any misunderstandings as well. Supplemental websites geared toward supporting your education include Khan Academy, Quizlet, and even Youtube. If you do not have access to technology or the internet, it is important to communicate with your school district and teachers to receive assistance.
Distance learning can prove to be a challenging task for some students, as their home environment may be distracting for learning. Despite this, there are ways to slowly improve both your mindset and environment.
If you find yourself in a loud environment, communicate with your parents or guardian about your schedule and coordinate a quiet area that you can use to complete your work for a set time. If this is not an option, practice mindfulness which will help you focus on your tasks when in distracting environments. A helpful mindful exercise you can try when you are overwhelmed involves closing your eyes and shifting your focus to your breathing while choosing an imaginary location to set yourself in. By practicing mindfulness routinely, your concentration will be greatly improved for the new school year.
During these trying times, many stressful factors come with distance learning. Nevertheless, learning how to adapt with the assistance of healthy coping mechanisms, resources, and mindfulness can help you achieve your goals and maintain a bright mindset. It is imperative to understand that you are not alone and that struggling is completely normal. Remember to reach out for help and that your mental well-being is not worth sacrificing over a grade.
RESOURCES TO HELP STUDENTS WITH STRESS
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