Stress is a normal part of life. There\u2019ll be many situations and scenarios where you might feel more stressed than normal, and school can be a big source of stress for many young people.<\/p>\n
Keeping up with homework for multiple subjects, exams, deadlines, subject choices; and that\u2019s without trying to add in your hobbies, hanging with friends and family, and some quiet time!<\/p>\n
There\u2019s a lot to take on, and it\u2019s totally normal you\u2019d feel the stress creeping in now and then.<\/p>\n
Stress can look and feel different to everyone. Sometimes, you might not even realise that stress is starting to cause a problem.<\/p>\n
Here are some clear signs that stress might be impacting your life according to the Australian Psychological Association:<\/p>\n
Identifying that stress is taking too big a role in your life is a great first step to reducing it and getting back on track. To help you get through these times, we\u2019ve put together a few top tips to help you look after yourself.<\/p>\n
Sleep deprivation reduces our ability to think logically and can make every other little bit of stress or frustration in our life feel SO much worse than it is!<\/p>\n
If you feel stress is taking over, the first thing to focus on. Try to spend a week resetting any poor sleep habits that might have crept in. Try to get to bed at a reasonable time and commit to no devices at least one hour before sleeping. Set yourself up with a positive routine; a hot shower, a calming cup of tea, and some reading, drawing or journaling.<\/p>\n
When we\u2019re stressed, it\u2019s easy to turn to comfort foods to help us feel better. Junk food, excessive coffee or sugary drinks can exacerbate feelings of stress and make us feel even more heightened and stressed!<\/p>\n
Commit to drinking lots of water throughout the day, get your two and five of fruit and veg and make sure you\u2019re eating proper meals three times a day. When your body feels appropriately nourished, your bain will too!<\/p>\n
When there\u2019s a lot on your plate, and it feels never-ending, it\u2019s easy to let schedules and routines slide – but these are the things that can help you feel more in control and capable during stressful times!<\/p>\n
Take a bit of time to reprioritise what you\u2019re doing and how you\u2019re doing it. Are you dedicating a couple of hours a day to Netflix or gaming but falling behind with your homework? Are you spending hours playing footie with your mates and neglecting your home chores? Think about how you can create a better balance and prioritise<\/a> what you need to do alongside what you want to do.<\/p>\n It\u2019s easy to slip into the habit of keeping your foot pressed to the pedal but feeling like you\u2019re not getting anywhere.<\/p>\n It\u2019s perfectly okay to give yourself a break and take a day off to rest and reset. This isn\u2019t about burying your head in the sand and neglecting what you need to do, but giving yourself a brain break so you can feel refreshed and ready to tackle everything.<\/p>\n Heaps of research has shown how getting outside in nature, green spaces (parks and forests) or blue spaces (the ocean or bodies of water) can help boost your mood and keep stress at bay!<\/p>\n Whether it\u2019s a casual hike, a surfing sesh, or taking your dog for a run in the local park – remember to add some fresh air and scenery into your week.<\/p>\n You\u2019re never alone when going through a rough stress patch. Whether it\u2019s getting help at school for everything you need to do, speaking to your parents, or simply letting it all out with your friends – talking about it will help.<\/p>\n4. Take a rest and reset day.<\/strong><\/h5>\n
5. Get outside.<\/strong><\/h5>\n
6. Talk it through.<\/strong><\/h5>\n