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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday February 7, 2007 - 29 EDUCATION IN OAKVILLE Solving stress for swamped students Adults aren't the only ones who experience stress. In this fast-paced educational environment, many children also undergo high levels of stress. Most working adults long for the carefree days of their youth, when schedules weren't so strict and time seemed to be on your side instead of something you raced against every day. While those carefree times might have been the norm for Baby Boomers and others now well established in adulthood, for many of today's students time is not as much of a friend as one might think. Students often have activity schedules as busy as their parents', in addition to a slew of other responsibilities. Though part of being an adult is learning to successfully juggle responsibilities, students, particularly high-school students, can buckle under the pressure of lifestyles that some educators and parents alike feel have grown far too active. As a result, students may need a little more help coping with stress and approaching their increasingly large list of responsibilities. · Take breaks. Many adults have found that taking breaks during the workday is a good way to keep energized and relieve stress. The same approach works for students as well. Studying for too long without taking a break can be counterproductive; concentration will begin to wane after too long and students won't retain as much information. Taking a break for a refreshing jog or just grabbing a snack and relaxing is key. Students should avoid watching television, as they might come across a long movie or ball game and cost themselves needed study time. · Track down the cause of stress. Adults can typically trace the source of their stress to the office. While it can be tough for adults to admit to being too stressed to their boss, students should have no such fear. In an attempt to form an impressive resume for prospective colleges, many highschool students take on far too many activities. Students who feel as though they're being pulled in too many directions should drop an activity or two. For instance, playing a varsity sport while holding down a part-time job and having a full courseload is simply doing too much. If class is getting to be too much to handle, students should consult a teacher and explain the situation. · Talk it out. While parents want their children to do well in school and other activities, most parents would admit they primarily want their children to be happy. Students feeling overly stressed should talk to their parents about what's stressing them out. If parents are unavailable, they can talk to anyone else who might be a good listener, such as a teacher, counselor or older sibling. Many times, relieving stress can be as simple as getting something off your chest, and talking about what's bothering you can be an effective way to do just that. · Exercise and eat well. Time and again, studies have proven the mental benefits of exercise. In addition to health benefits, exercise generally puts people in better moods, making them more capable of coping with stress in the process. Part of that is because exercise relieves muscle tension, which can build up greatly in individuals suffering from significant stress. In addition, the negative effects of stress can be weight gain and other damaging physical effects, making exercise especially important for those under constant stress. Eating well, while largely uncommon among high school students, can also help reduce stress, as a balanced diet will provide both the energy and nutrients necessary to handling a full load. · Try looking at things from a different perspective. This can actually be easier for the young than for the older, who have had more time to grow into and get used to their perspective on life, school, work, etc. Young students who are feeling stressed out should try and discuss their situation with someone who doesn't necessarily share their perspective. While the things that are important to a student are so for a reason, if he or she is feeling stressed out perhaps approaching those things in a different way is worth the try. (MS)