• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to content
  • Skip to footer

TheHopeLine

  • Topics
    • Understand Mental Health
    • Recognize Abuse
    • Addiction Recovery
    • Relationship Challenges
    • Dating Tips
    • Grow Your Faith
    • Practice Self-Care
    • Improve Self-Esteem
    • Talk About Sex
    • Additional-topics
    • Temas en español
  • Shows
    • The Prayer Show
    • TheHopeLine with Dawson McAllister
    • The Dawson McAllister Podcast
    • Ask Dawson
  • Get Help
  • Give Now
  • About Us
  • Subscribe
  • Get Help
Give Now

School Pressure: How to Cope with Stress in a Healthier Way

by Dawson McAllister

  • Print
School Pressure: How to Cope with Stress in a Healthier Way

coping with school stress is important girl stressed from school standing in front of a school bus thehopeline resources

School pressure can feel overwhelming, especially during midterms and final exams. Multiple classes, multiple assignments, and, of course, the social pressure: everyone wants to feel like they are valued, and that they belong. But the pressure of school stress is not impossible to overcome.

I’ve seen many dedicated students face and overcome school-related stress by making simple adjustments to their habits and their mindsets. If you’re stressed from school, I hope these ideas will encourage you as you try finding greater peace during stressful times at school.

Set Smaller Goals

While some stress definitely comes from external factors, I’ve noticed there are other times I can cause myself stress because my goals themselves are stressful. Here are some things I’ve found helpful that might also ease stress for you at school:

  • Make goals smaller: Instead of setting just a few big end-of-year goals, set smaller goals to celebrate all the little victories along the way. For example, setting daily goals for practicing your foreign language for 20 minutes will help you feel more confident about homework assignments, and will make it more likely you do well on tests and exams.
  • Make goals reasonable: If you have struggled all year in chemistry and currently have a C-, it would heap stress on you to strive for an A+ with only half a semester left. Setting a more realistic goal, like moving up half a letter grade, will likely relieve some stress while still giving you something to focus on.
  • Share your goals: I don’t mean telling everyone, of course. But sharing the goals most important to you with people you trust (like your parents, your teacher, or a guidance counselor), will ensure they are better prepared to help you achieve what you set out to do.
School stress can be overwhelming, especially during midterms or finals. But it is not impossible to overcome. Click To Tweet

Remember to Rest

Getting adequate rest doesn’t just help you feel better, it makes it easier to maintain focused and stay centered during times of heightened stress.

Be sure you schedule your studying so that you are getting adequate sleep at night, and take rest breaks throughout longer periods of studying to recharge.

Just like limiting study time in general, limiting breaks helps things stay balanced. Try taking 10-15 minute breaks for:

  • Short walks: Light exercise can keep you energized when your brain needs it most.
  • Deep breathing: Meditation and breathing exercises help you feel calmer faster in times of heightened stress.
  • Prayer and reflection: Asking God for help finding peace during times of stress can help you center yourself spiritually, which can help lower mental stress.

Wondering How To Manage College Stress?

Reach out for Support

Grades and schoolwork are your responsibility, but that doesn’t mean you’re on your own when it comes to handling stress. You can ask a therapist for help when you feel overwhelmed, or you can let your family know you need a break for some time together.

Teachers, guidance counselors, and people who care about you want you to succeed in school. Don’t feel ashamed about asking for help when you need it.

Sometimes recovering from stress takes extra support, and we are here to help. Talk to a HopeCoach at TheHopeLine for one-on-one help with stress management throughout the school year. You can get through this, and we are here for you.

Is school stress causing you to have panic attacks? Learn grounding techniques to help you with panic attacks here. 

Your Friend,

Dawson McAllister's Blogs and resources from TheHopeLine

Feeling Anxious and Overwhelmed? Download our free eBook for help:


Photo by Nina Hill

Filed Under: Anxiety, School Pressures, Self-Care Tagged With: Dawson's Blog, FAQ

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

guest-dawson-blog-featured-images
Wondering How To Manage College Stress?
guest-dawson-blog-featured-images
5 Goals for the Best School Year Ever
guest-dawson-blog-featured-images
Chronic Illness: Should I Take a Break from School? EP 31

Footer

Encouragement When You Need It The Most

Life is Messy. We. Get. It. And without support, many lose hope that things will ever get better. That’s where TheHopeLine® comes in. We want you to know that you are NOT alone. We’ve been there. And, we’ve talked to others who’ve been there.

Browse Our Site

  • Home
  • Blog
  • Stories
  • eBooks
  • The Prayer Show
  • Podcast
  • Verses of Hope
  • Videos
  • Subscribe
  • Ask Dawson
  • Prayers
  • Partners
  • About God
  • Self-Care Checklists
  • Write for Us
  • Contact Us
  • Give Now

TheHopeLine

Founded over 25 years ago by youth speaker and radio host, Dawson McAllister, we have heard the struggles people face and learned how to offer life-changing support. Our mission is to reach, rescue and restore those who are broken and hopeless. We encourage people in the midst of their struggles by providing clear thinking and right values.

Topics

  • Understand Mental Health
  • Recognize Abuse
  • Addiction Recovery
  • Relationship Challenges
  • Dating Tips
  • Grow Your Faith
  • Practice Self-Care
  • Improve Self-Esteem
  • Talk About Sex
  • Additional Topics
  • Temas en español

Get Help Now

If you are in need of immediate help. Dial 911, or call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1.800.273.8255.

  • the mighty
Follow Us:
2021 © TheHopeLine
Privacy Policy / Terms of Use
Get Help