Finding yourself surrounded by tons of homework, tests, and other school requirements are indeed stressful. The late-night reviews and the long hours you spend browsing over pages of books quickly drain out your motivation and your joy in studying. Fortunately, there are helpful ways that you can adopt to make learning less of a burden.
How to deal with Study Stress? Dealing with study stress requires the right “studying strategy”. By knowing the right “studying strategy” you will be better able to use the right learning approach to cope with study stress.
The following sections will provide you with useful ideas to cope with study stress. Using these ideas can help you plan workable ways to deal with your burnt out state and make studying fun and enjoyable.
Sources & Solutions To Study Stress
It is important to understand the condition you are in now. Study Stress is the pressure and anxiety experienced by over studying. It is mostly felt by students nowadays.
Study stress is a normal part of a study life. A little stress can be good, as it motivates you to solve the different challenges faced.
Below is a list of the sources of study stress. You will learn about each source and how to deal with it.
Test
Tests were designed to measure your knowledge and skills learned from school. Mostly, tests will require you to spend long hours studying. Recalling and memorizing past lessons from different subject areas can cause you stress.
Solution: Plan it well. A well planned time table will help you get through one exhausting exam week. Ensure that you have summarized the most salient points in your notes to cut short your readings. Scan your past messages weeks before test schedules to give you enough time to recall your lessons. Get enough sleep as much as you can. Nothing escapes a relaxed, stress-free mind.
Lots of Homework
Homework is an essential part of the lesson. This provides you the opportunity to practice your learned skill at home or prepare for a new course in advance. However, loads of homework every day means you have extra hours of studying. It is also an addition to the time you have already spent in school, which, in turn, makes you restless.
Solution: Give yourself a break, at least an hour or two. Listen to music that helps calm your mind and boost your mood. Eat healthy meals and drink refreshing beverages that can restore your energy.
Heavy workload
One student can only endure so much. The combination of homework, test reviews, submission of projects, and writing reports are mounting workloads. Also, along with club activities that need to be completed. These challenges your ability to manage time as you juggle your way to accomplishing each task while ensuring a satisfactory output. Most students find themselves tired and unproductive due to the bulk load of school activities.
Solution: Set your priorities. Make a list of all the things that you need to finish according to deadlines. Get rid of the things that will distract you away from your goal. Working efficiently will help you lessen your time allotment in completing each task.
Class Participation
There are several reasons why participating in class gives you anxiety. It could be because you are not familiar with the lesson or because you are distracted, or simply because you are shy to express yourself in class.
Solution: Get ahead of the game. Do an advanced reading of your next lessons. It will give you confidence in sharing your ideas in class because the topics are no longer new to you. Stay focused during discussions for a better understanding of the lesson.
Family Problems
Family problems are perhaps one of the most common concerns that truly heighten the level of study stress. Issues in your household can seriously affect your emotional, social, and physical state. It contributes to your difficulty in focusing on your school tasks.
Solution: Speak it out. Talking to a family member or a close friend about your feelings helps vent out all the negative vibes. Maintain a positive mindset and celebrate even the smallest of your school achievements.
Financial Problems
Coping with school fees is a mutual struggle of most students from average to low waged families. It is incredibly challenging to stay motivated studying if you have no budget to buy books, uniforms, and other school supplies.
Solution: Find ways. Ask your school about programs for students with financial concerns. Your school Administration might lay out a workable option for you to still be able to continue school.
Setting goals can reduce study stress
Goal setting is an essential skill needed for success. Goals that carefully plan have a higher success rate of overcoming your problems as a student. If done effectively, it can reduce your stress as a student.
Here are the reasons why you need to set goals to reduce your study stress.
- You specify. You take full control of all the goals that you set. You must set goals that are attainable for you as a student.
- You know what to achieve. As a student, you have to identify your goals and how you will achieve them. You have full control over what will be the outcome of your dreams. It refrains you from rushing things on your deadlines.
- You know your timeframe. You will be on track to meet your deadlines. You know when to finish it and how to finish it.
So how will you set up your goals? Here are tips on how to set up your goals in reducing study stress.
Quick start to set your goals
To set one, it must be SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time-bound.) Zig Ziglar said, “A goal set is halfway reached.” So, how would you set it? Here’s the SMART way:
Specific
Make sure that your goals are precise. Broad goals are very confusing and can make you lose your focus. Always be specific and make sure that it won’t distract or lose your attention. Knowing your goal will give you more reasons to do it precisely.
Measurable
Your goals are meaningful. It should have an impact on your life if you attain it. It should be measurable. Meaning to say you know when you are going to pursue and chase your goals. How far or near will I reach this goal?”
Attainable
Set goals that are within your ability and resources. Plans that are not attainable are useless. Make sure that it will unleash your skills and capabilities. More importantly, you should know your strengths and weaknesses for you to be able to distinguish if your goal is attainable.
Realistic
Goals must be practical. Is it relevant to your life? Don’t set a plan that is too far from reality. You need to have a useful way of thinking. It can measure and see if your goals are realistic or near realistic. Ask yourself if it is going to have an impact on your life.
Time-bound
Goals can change from time to time. One’s purpose in their teenage might change when they reach adulthood, and that’s okay. You should have short-term goals and long-term goals. Write it on a piece of paper and break down all your objectives. Ask yourself if what are my long-term goals? What are my short-term goals?
The Pomodoro Technique
One of the best ways to set up a study routine is by using the Pomodoro Technique by Francesco Cirillo. Traditionally, it is a technique that follows 25 minutes in length and is separated by short breaks. It is one of the study techniques that many students are doing today. By using this technique, it does not cause a lot of stressful work for them. Also, it helps to stay away from being distracted.
Conclusion
Study stress is inevitable. It takes understanding your capability to manage the pressure and discovering ways to overcome it. Remember to keep a positive mindset while facing challenges in your studies. These challenges will make you a better person when you are out there facing real life problems
Study stress can be a daily occurence. It will become unhealthy if prolonged. Some signs are physical and emotional pain. A healthy reaction to your study stress is to adapt to the changing environment at your school. Looking at the bright side of the situation.
Related Questions
Can studying with my friends help me reduce stress? Joining study groups with your friends can help you understand the lessons or topics. You can seek advice and benefit from other students on the issues you find difficult. You can also learn by hearing information and explaining your thoughts about the topic. Study groups can be an excellent way to practice your oral communication skills. Studying with your friends can make you happy. It will give less stress because you are enjoying it aside from your learning.
How will I know if I am stressed with my study?. You will see if you have a feeling of laziness and tiredness.
