HEALTH

In this day and age, most of us are *super* busy. You're juggling school, clubs, afterschool activities, maybe a part-time job, family and friends. All of this, and you're expected to excel and be fully committed to everything. A lot of time you can end up feeling super overwhlemed and start falling behind. When you have way too much to do and seemingly no way to get it all done, use these strategies to get back on track and stress-free. 

1. Get organized.
Never underestimate the power of a planner. Consider getting one to write down all your assignments, appointments and responsibilities. Having all of your to do's out of your head and in one place makes it way easier to takle. Not only this, but the process of writing everything out will automatically give you a schedule of how to get things done. You'll feel much better once you have a plan for your work, it will make things more doable in the long run. Sometimes, accomplishing your tasks is as simple as getting past the freak out and making time for what needs to be done. 

2. Take a break.
If you can afford to, sometimes you just need to take a step back. There's no shame in letting go of things you can't handle if they're really stressing you out. If you're going through a really busy time at school, consider taking time off from work or missing a practice to study or go to tutoring. If you just can't seem to get a handle on that big science project, maybe take a walk or read a book to take your mind off of the stress. You'll come back with a clearer head and better able to deal with the task at hand.

3. Procrastinate (responsibly).
There's a little system I like to call responsible procrastination. When you've done all you can on a project or a task before you start pulling your hair out, getting something else done just accomplish some productivity. For example, instead of trying to push through writers block on your essay, take a break and finally clean your room or finish a different assignment. This way, you can have the satisfaction of having completed a task that is at least somewhat productive and return to your work with the confidence that you can get things done.

4. Talk it out.
Sometimes you just need to vent. If you're feeling stressed, consider calling up a friend to talk through all that is overwhelming you. Talking about what's bothering you will make you feel better than just freaking out to yourself. Your friend might even be able to help you in a way you hadn't considered.

5. Ask for help.
Don't be afraid to ask for help. If doing everything yourself isn't necessary for the task, then don't. Asking for help isn't a weakness and it doesn't take away from your hard work. Knowing when you're in over your head is an important skill to have.

6. Keep track of your progress.
Put together a to-do list. Whenever you finish something, cross it out. Keep your list with you and look at it whenever you're feeling stressed. Remind yourself of how far you've already come and that you've gotten through stressful times before and you can do it again. 

What's your go to way to deal with stress? Let us know in the comments. 

by Cydnii Jones | 11/5/2018