Being Stressed and Under Pressure.

Source: Weheartit.com


I suppose you could call this a reaction to a Teen Vogue article, but it is also and agreement with some of the people who gave their short stress related stories.


As someone in the process of applying for student finance loans, navigating multiple social groups, a part-time job,driving lessons, and with my exams just around the corner it is all too easy to become very overwhelmed by it all. I will freely admit that I do at times, when I have more than two pieces of homework a night all week the stress soon builds up, but I have found a few ways to deal with the increasing levels of stress in teens, especially those in the later years of secondary school, college and university.Whenever I think of a stressful school life my mind always turns to Blair Waldorf, not only did she have the pressure to get in to university but here every move was being posted on the Gossip Girl blog... (I am not even sorry that I referenced Gossip Girl, I love that show I don't care if it has stopped airing)

"A recent study by the American Psychological Society found that teens my experience higher levels of stress than adults"

Before I give you my favourite ways of dealing with stress, if you can have favourite ways that is... I would like to say that, in school I felt like I had to be perfect, skinny, good grades, in the "popular" social group, but looking back I know I don't, everyone gets stressed not just students, people of all ages get stressed and that we all need some time out of our increasingly hectic lives to regather our personal forces and head back in to daily life. I also find that you need to admit that you are stressed in order to deal with it before it gets out of control and leads to unhealthy habits, for example when I am stressed and I don't know it I will forget to eat sometimes for days at a time. So on to what I do to prevent and/or cope with stress:

  1.  Read. If you don't already know I am a big promoter of reading books, not audiobooks or on e-readers, real books with real pages and the printed word, even a magazine would do I recommend ones like Oh Comely who don't have articles about weight or how you should look etc.  
  2. Create To-Do lists. I find that writing out what I need to get done that evening or that week helps me, and I love the feeling of accomplishment after I crossed something off the lists. Sometimes I will create a list of what I am doing that day so I can be sure that I know where I am going and I won't forget anything...
  3. Listen. To music, to other people, to the radio, or to the sound of the train on your commute to and from work or school. Just sit and listen to the sounds that surround you everyday, don't let them sink into the background. Reserve your iPod for when you have a big deadline or something similar and play it obnoxiously loud, yes even on public transport if it means that you will get through your day without snapping at someone who did nothing wrong then go for it. 
  4. Exercise. Yes I know this is what everybody says, but for me I get stressed if I don't. My mum will happily tell you about the times I threw a strop before swim practice and then got me to appologise for it afterwards because she was right that even at the age of 9 or 10 I could not deal with a lack of exercise. Plus it will do you body and your willpower a world of good. Dog walking is included in this not just sweaty cardio workouts. Eating well goes along nicely with this!
  5. Go outside. This may seem silly, but sitting in front of your computer screen or staring at your phone probably isn't helping. Go outside experience new sights, smells and sounds, explore nature even if you live in a busy city go to the nearest park and watch the world go by for 5 minutes.
  6. Spend time with Friends. This one is self explanatory, but for me I cannot remember a time when I was not happy when I was with my friends, just hanging out, going for coffee and eat good food, yes even study sessions....
  7. Sleep. Get your beauty sleep, if something isn't working at 10pm it probably isn't going to work at 2am, go to bed sleep on it, then try again in the morning.

 I hope you found a few of these helpful.... Pleas comment what you do to help with stress!
XO, Miriam

P.S. I forgot one go shopping for new clothes ;) 

 

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6 comments:

  1. Great tips! I'm not the best at handling stress but I try to relax and think about something less stressful if I feel myself getting overwhelmed.
    xx
    The Miss Beauty Saver Blog

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I never used to be good at handling it, I try to keep organised or just calm down via books and sleep!
      XO, Miriam

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  2. I found these tips really helpful. Thank you for sharing

    Nicola x
    http://nicolabishopx.blogspot.co.uk

    ReplyDelete
  3. This post is really helpful! That study is so true - I'm only 16 but I can see that the pressures coming over the next few months/years are gonna be incredibly stressful. I struggle most with getting enough sleep but that's definitely something I'm working on!
    followed you on bloglovin :)
    lily x
    www.jolihouse.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is so true! Getting enough sleep is something I haven't had since I left school... I hope uni brings brighter prospects of 8 hours sleep a night. You seem to be in control with everything at school though, so I am sure you will cope just fine!
      Thank you for the follow :)
      XO, Miriam

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