Midterms, deadlines and holidays. Let’s face it the months of late October to December can be stressful! It is important to recognize that there are many different types of stress whether it be academic, work, or personal. There are many different resources which are designed to help people manage stress or stressful situations, most of these can be found online but if you need physical hard copies check out your school’s guidance office (or student success for post-secondary students). In this article I am going to feature 6 tips that have helped me reach academic success.
1. Count some sheep
Did you know that CHEO (Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario) recommends people aged 12 to 18 get 8.5 to 9.5 hours of sleep a night? According to their research the average Canadian in that age range gets 7 hours. If you don’t get enough sleep there are many side effects which we can feel the next day, like trouble concentrating, getting sick more often and troubles regulating your moods.
So how can you get the recommended amount of sleep? Practice good sleep hygiene:
- Your bed is for sleep. Avoid using your bed as a space to do homework, watch Netflix or lounge around in.
- Screens mess with your ability to produce melatonin- which is needed to signal to your body that it’s time for sleep. Avoid screens for at least 30 minutes before bed.
- Engage in a nightly routine one hour before bed. Have a cup of tea, read a book, brush your teeth, wash your face with warm water. This signals that it’s time for sleep.
- Find a schedule that works for you and stick to it as best you can- even on weekends!
2. Get moving
It is easy to find yourself sitting and slouching all day long as you “hunker down” to study for midterms and finals. It is important to get your blood moving. Now you may be thinking “ugh I don’t like the gym or have a gym membership”, but getting physical activity doesn’t have to mean going to the gym or doing sit ups. It can be taking your friend’s dog for a walk, turning on some of your favourite beats and dancing it out, taking a quick stretch break… the point is to elevate your heart rate and get some more blood and oxygen pumping to your brain – the endorphins don’t hurt either!
3. Learn to use the clock to your advantage
Time management can be tricky, especially when you have a relatively open schedule (like when you live on your own and go to college or university). Different things work for different people, like digital calendars, physical planners, to-do lists and timers. When scheduling your day it is not only important to include meetings, classes, and due dates, but also travel time to and from class, eating meals and taking time for yourself. It is easy to schedule your commitment and to overschedule yourself. The importance of scheduling time so that you can live a well-balanced life between academics, work, social skills and personal time. The final piece of advice I have for time management is to ensure that there is some flexibility in your schedule in case you cannot complete the task in the scheduled time.
4. Study… What’s that?
One of the biggest causes of academic stress can be a result of lacking study skills. What are study skills? They can be anything from how you learn to preparing for exams to taking effective notes. Check out this list of helpful study strategies.
5. Reach Out
School can be hard. If you find that you are struggling with keeping up, understanding concepts or completing an assignment don’t be afraid to reach out to your teachers/ professors. Your teachers are there to help you and they want you to succeed. If you are struggling with your mental health or planning for your future don’t be afraid of reaching out to a school counsellor or your guidance counsellor!