Between school and life, there just don’t seem to be enough hours in the day. The workload piles up and, before we know it, so does the stress.

Some factors that can contribute to the stress level of a student include juggling academics with athletics, work and one’s private life.

However, no matter what is causing your stress, it’s not healthy to let it all build up to the breaking point. Finding time in your day, or even your week, to de-stress is crucial to both your health and your sanity.

Having already experienced three years of high school – and now going through my final year – I’ve gotten into the habit of several practices which can both relieve and also prevent stress and anxiety.

If you find yourself feeling anxious about an upcoming test, quiz, or are just feeling a general sense of anxiety, a great way to get rid of some of that nervous energy is to simply exercise. Getting your muscles moving and your heart racing helps alleviate tiredness and gives you a boost of energy.

This boost of energy can be just what you need to get started on studying or it can just help you sweat out those butterflies in your stomach. Make sure to get at least twenty minutes a day or every other day of physical activity to help control your stress and keep you healthy. Some good forms of exercise include walking, jogging, riding a bike; really, any activity you enjoy and that gets your heart rate going is fine. .

Another way to reduce the stress building up inside is deep breathing. When you’re nervous, you may feel as if your head is about to explode and that your heart may stop at any moment. Do not panic. Simply try this little exercise: First, close your eyes and allow your thoughts to drift. Empty your mind. Second, breathe in slowly and deeply and then breathe out.

The best method that I’ve found is to take a deep breath in, count to seven, and then slowly exhale. As you breathe, try not to think about anything – again, try to empty your mind. . Listening to relaxing music can help further alleviate any nervousness you may be feeling

No one wants to be stressed out. However, we all know how hard it can be to keep stress at bay. Now, what I’m going to say next may seem impossible, but it is one of the most important things you can do to decrease your stress level: Do not procrastinate.

For a high school student, procrastinating is second nature but, remember, as you prepare for college and the future ahead, procrastinating will get you nowhere.

Whether an assignment is due in three weeks or three days, you should not delay your preparation. Soon after you receive the assignment you should be brainstorming ideas and/or working on it. Trying to cram a huge project into one night can lead to not only an incomplete and subpar project, but a level of stress that is totally not necessary.

No matter how tedious an assignment or project may seem, it is doable. Break up the assignment into small sections, doing a part each day. Your project will be done ahead of time and you can cuddle peacefully in bed instead of jumping out of it when you finally recall that the project is due the next day.