Editor’s note: Missing Amanda’s (’12) pearls of wisdom? Well, miss no more! Welcome to senior Mehana Lee, our new blogger. Read her column, “A Little Lee-way,” every Wednesday, right here at kaleoonakoa.org.
“A diamond is just a piece of charcoal that handled stress exceptionally well.” -Unknown
The first quarter of our school year is almost over. You know what that means…chapter tests, midterms and last but definitely not least, stress. And lots of it.
It’s unavoidable no matter how many hours we spend studying terms on flash cards, practicing equations on scratch paper or reviewing notes from previous chapters. It’s like the weight of the world lies on your shoulders, and on top of that there’s practice, tutoring, part-time jobs, chores, babysitting, and so on.
You’ve gotten to that point where you feel like giving up. But here’s some advice: just don’t.
It’s too easy to say “Ah, I’ll just do this tomorrow morning during class. The couch and TV are waiting for me.”
In reality, waiting around to do your homework or project last minute is just going to stress you out even more. So just do it.
I’m not saying that I’ve always been on top of getting my work done early. In fact, I probably procrastinate when it comes to procrastinating. But I can say that I’ve gotten a lot better at motivating myself to get off Tumblr or Instagram and actually open up my Pre-Calculus textbook to start on the next problem.
I’ve learned that it takes a lot to handle the side effects of stress — loss of sleep, anxiety, the jitters, overthinking situations and complete mental breakdowns. You know those feelings; we’ve all been there, and you are definitely not alone.
It’s the life of a highschooler. See, this is a tricky thing.
In high school we want to experience all that we can, maintain a social life and also excel in grades and athletics. We want to make everyone feel happy…including ourselves.
Sometimes we take on more than what we can handle, thus creating more stress on top of the stress we already had.
Here are some simple tips to help with reducing your everyday stress:
1. Don’t think of all the things you have to do at once.
Break it down and do one thing at a time. It’s easier to get things done in steps instead of worrying about everything else you have to finish.
2. Take a 15-20 minute break from studying.
Take a quick walk outside, listen to some music, have a snack, pet your dog. Just take some time to breathe. But, don’t forget to come back!
3. Organize everything out.
We’re given planners for a reason, so use it. Write down assignments and the due dates so you know exactly by when it should be finished. That way you won’t be rushing the night before to get your assignment done.
4. Make a goal and reward yourself.
Having something to shoot for actually helps motivate you to get work done faster. Something like, “When I finish my English essay by nine, I’ll treat myself to a bowl of ice cream,” sounds pretty rewarding to me.
Hard work pays off. It’s probably one of the greatest feelings knowing that you’ve accomplished something, even with obstacles in the way.
Stress is only temporary. Everyone deals with it. Just learn how to stay calm, relax and keep your head in the books, and you, too, will be a valuable diamond one day.
Good luck, and just remember, fall break is right around the corner!
Amanda Lee • Oct 4, 2012 at 11:43 am
Dear Mehana,
Fantastic job with the column, I remember that stressed out pose rather well, as I believe that I did something quite similar last year. 😉 You’re doing a great job, keep up the good work! I’ll be following you diligently!
To all the readers who read this calming piece of literature, I am here to be a reinforcing voice of reason and tell you that she’s right. In the new world of college, stress is a hot commodity and everyone’s got it. People are so caught up in trying new things, meeting new people, and doing everything EXCEPT their homework that getting 6 hours of sleep is considered above average. Procrastination is every student’s favorite activity and worst habit. It’s bad guys, really bad.
Procrastination in college is even easier than it was in high school. You only have maybe 2-3 classes a day and all the free time in the world to do whatever catches your fancy.
The thing is, nothing is really mandatory. All the hard lines and strict rules that kept you boxed in are gone. You’re suddenly Peter Pan and no one is making you “grow up” and go to class and do homework. Class isn’t mandatory and nothing is forcing you to show up and turn in your homework. In fact, no one even made sure you did homework in the first place!
With work being optional and fun being available 24/7 (cable is in the dorm room guys, I can literally sit on my bed and watch The Voice and Glee ALL DAY), you find yourself asking yourself “What is the homework?” “What is this ‘work’ everyone is freaking out about?” Reality check guys: when you forget what homework is and what it’s like to work, you’re doing something wrong.
When you get into college, you have this new sense of autonomy. Sure, in high school, everyone talks about how they can’t wait to leave. They’re dewy-eyed and starstruck with the idea of being independent. There’s going to be no teacher to call your parents when you don’t show up for class all week, no parents to sign your planner at night and remind you to do your homework.
It all sounds like a great big party doesn’t it? That’s because it is! It’s fun and exciting and exhilarating to wake up in the morning and know that you can do whatever you want because you’re in charge of your life now.
But it’s also scary and stressful because you’re in charge of your life now. All you have is yourself and your cell-phone alarm to wake you up on time. Stress doesn’t leave when you go to college, if anything it intensifies.
So, dearest readers, a bit of advice from someone who’s a little older and a few months wiser: kick your procrastinating habits to the curb, study Mehana’s stress relieving remedies religiously, and keep reading her column! Her pictures are so funny!
Lots of Love,
Amanda