How to Reduce Student Stress and Excel in School

How to Reduce Student Stress and Excel in School Stress Management Situational Stress Print How to Reduce Student Stress and Excel in School By Elizabeth Scott, MS twitter Elizabeth Scott, MS, is a wellness coach specializing in stress management and quality of life, and the author of 8 Keys to Stress Management. Learn about our editorial policy Elizabeth Scott, MS Updated on July 13, 2019 How Stress Impacts Your Health Overview Signs of Burnout Stress and Weight Gain Benefits of Exercise Stress Reduction Tips Self-Care Practices Mindful Living Mike Kemp / Getty Images As educational requirements become more stringent in all levels of education, students everywhere experience considerable school stress. This stress can affect performance on tests, participation in classes, and the well being of students everywhere.?? Therefore, its vital for all students to have a collection of effective stress management techniques that work. Stress-Relief Tips to Help Achieve Success in School The following stress relief tips and tools for students are vital for minimizing school stress.  Use these in your life to learn study skills, prepare for exams and minimize stress levels to make learning easier.   When you find stress management techniques that work for you and make them habits in your life now, you can draw upon these strategies as you face stress throughout your life. For greater success in school and life, master the following. Manage Time Wisely It’s important to give yourself plenty of time to work on your studies if you want to do well, and you can save yourself a lot of stress if you plan with good time management skills.?? Setting up a schedule for study, breaking up your studies into smaller chunks, and other time management skills are essential. Get Organized Have a system of organization for note-taking, keeping track of assignments, and other important papers. Being organized can bring you the peace of mind that comes from knowing where everything is, remembering deadlines and test dates, and clearing your mind of some of the mental clutter that disorganization brings. Keep a calendar, a schedule, and a filing system for your school assignments, and you’ll find it prevents a significant amount of stress! How to Get Organized to Relieve Stress Create a Good Study Environment Creating a soothing environment can reduce stress and help you learn. Aromatherapy, for example, is a known stress reliever, and peppermint essential oil is said to wake up your brain.?? Playing classical music as you study can also soothe you and help you learn (unless you find it distracting).??   Know Your Learning Style Did you know that we don’t all learn in the same way? It’s important to know whether you’re a visual, kinesthetic or auditory learner, as you can tailor your study practices around your particular learning style and make success easier to attain.   Practice Visualizations Visualizations and imagery are proven stress management techniques.?? You can also reduce student stress and improve test performance by imagining yourself achieving your goals. Take a few minutes each day and visualize, in detail, what youd like to happen, whether it’s giving a presentation without getting nervous, acing an exam, or something else that will support your success. Then work hard and make it happen! Use Guided Imagery For Stress Relief Develop Optimism It has been proven that optimistsâ€"those who more easily shrug off failures and multiple successesâ€"are healthier, less stressed, and more successful.?? While some level of optimism is inborn, optimism is a state that can be practiced, and your overall levels of optimism can increase as a result.   Develop the traits of optimism and youll do better in your studies and your future career. 5 Tips to Help You Become an Optimist Get Enough Sleep If you want your performance to be optimum, you need to be well-rested. Research shows that those who are sleep-deprived have more trouble learning and remembering, and perform more poorly in many areas.?? You can also be more reactive to stress when you are sleep-deprived, so there are many reasons to focus on getting quality sleep each night.   Students are notoriously busy and sleep-deprived, so you may need to go against the grain at times in order to protect your sleep schedule, but it will be worth it both now and in the future.  Work your schedule so you get enough sleep, or take power naps. Learn to Practice Power Napping Learn Study Skills When you know and practice specific study skills, your entire school experience becomes easier. Learning to stay focused on tasks and organized with your study schedule, for example, can enable you to get more done when you study. Many of these skills transfer to productivity skills in your career, so they are important to know.  Here are some more specific  study skills and techniques  that can help you improve your performance.   How to Become a More Effective Learner Use Stress Management Techniques Chronic stress can impair your ability to learn and remember facts as well;?? stress management is one of the most important--and most overlooked--school necessities. A regular stress management practice can reduce your overall stress level and help you to be prepared for whatever comes. The more you identify and practice techniques that work for you now, the more prepared you will be to cope with the challenges you face throughout your life.