S.O.S: Save Our Students From Stress

In life, stress is unavoidable and normal, but being stressed is something that can be controlled.
[Source: Student Affairs]

For the students in the ABC District in Cerritos, the first semester of school is coming to an end. This means that many students will undergo more stress as they cram in that last bits of information to pass their upcoming finals. And because most schools compress all course finals into a single week, this can be considered a recipe for stress and dread for students.

During the week of finals, students tend to lose sleep, dismiss their hygiene, and eat whatever foods are at convenience. According to a sophmore of Gahr High School, Marisse Dogelio, states that just hearing the word finals, makes her feel stressful, as she thinks about the tests and grades that may drop. She believes that to be successful for the finals, you have to stay up all night studying, but the key to survive stressful weeks is balance.

Sleep is a necessity to the human body because this is when major processing, restoration, and strengthening occurs. Students tend to forget this and stay up during finals week, thinking that they will be able to achieve more if they sacrifice their precious hours of sleep.

However, sleep is one of the biggest factors in balance. Not getting adequate amounts of sleep can make it harder to concentrate in class or, even worse, cause one to fall asleep during the exams. A fatigued mind does not absorb any information, and exacerbates memory. Therefore, skip the all nighters and sleep at reasonable hours. You will feel more refreshed and your mind more alert.

Although there may be other effective ways to study for finals, maintaining a reasonable sleep schedule is the key to a successful and stress-free finals week.
[Source: ThoughtCo]

Another stress-busting tip is self care. Keeping a healthy diet is important during the week of finals, because healthy meals such as vegetables or nuts are high in protein which can stimulate the mind and body, unlike junk foods, which are full of processed carbohydrates that can ultimately leave you exhausted.

Staying active is also a form of self care. Getting some exercise such as walking, stretching, or just moving around in general can help with the stress by boosting the blood flow to the brain. Sitting in one place for too long can amplify the stress, but if you exercise, it can help you focus, and gives additional energy. When stress affects the brain, with its many connections to the nerves, the rest of the body also feels an impact. So stands the reason that when your body feels better your mind does too.

Exercise produces endorphins, which is a chemical in the brain that acts as a natural painkiller, and it can improve the ability to sleep, therefore in turn reduce stress. According to research, scientists have proven that regular participation in exercise can decrease overall levels of tension, elevate and stabilize mood, improve sleep, and improve self-esteem. Even a short amount of physical activity can stimulate anti- anxiety effects, so make some time to go out and take a walk or go to the gym. You will feel more stabilized as you strive to survive a stressful week of finals.

S.O.S: Save Our Students From Stress

Kaitlyn Kang

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