Student Stressing — How to Deal With Academic Stress?

Student extracurricular schedules have never been busier. By high school, homework averages between 1 and 3 hours per day. Many students participate in extracurricular activities and have part-time jobs. Add that to non-academic stressors such as finances, home life, racism, sexism, bullying, environmental factors, and social, emotional, and mental health—and student stressing is on the rise.

Are college students the only students who feel stress?

While college student stress was once the primary talking point—stress is on the rise for elementary, middle, and high school students.

That being said, the transition from high school to college brings a variety of new challenges. Students who continue to live at home may have an easier transition, but the transition still requires an adjustment period.

College students often struggle with one or more of the factors below:

• Their relationships with their high school friend group is now primarily virtual.
• Many college students struggle with loneliness and homesickness.
• They must balance their newfound freedom with newfound responsibilities.
• Class schedules fluctuate, creating the need for improved time management skills.
• Students are now the primary driver of their eating and sleeping habits.
• Between work, school, and extracurricular activities there isn’t much time for self-care.
• Financial concerns rise, including food security and the cost of tuition.

What causes you stress as a student?

The causes of student stress vary by the individual student and extend beyond academic obligations.

Let’s take a look at a few student stress statistics:

• Over 50% of students stress about school shootings.
• 61% of teens admit feeling pressure to get good grades.
• 29% of teens feel pressure to prioritize their physical appearance.
• 28% of teens feel pressure to fit in socially.
• 21% of teens feel pressure related to sports and extracurricular activities.
• 7 out of 10 teens have named anxiety or depression as a major problem.
• 75% of high school students expressed boredom, anger, sadness, fear, or stress while in school.
• Teenagers rate their stress rate at an average score of 5.8 on a scale of 1 to 10, compared to a score of 3.8 for adults.
• 75% of high schoolers and 50% of middle schoolers described themselves as “often or always feeling stressed” by schoolwork.
• 60% of university students worry about not having enough money to pay for their next semester.
• 29% of college students have been bullied.
• 37% of middle and high school students have experienced cyberbullying.
• 24% of female students are bullied compared to 17 % of male students.
• 6% of male students report being physically bullied compared to 4% of female students.
• 18% of female students report being the subject of rumors compared to 9% of male students.
• 32% of LGBTQIA students are bullied compared to 17% of straight or closeted students.
• Over 20% of all school bullying is race related.

These statistics are important for students, parents, and teachers to understand to positively contribute to creating a safe space for all students.

What happens if a student is stressed?

The first step is recognizing that you are stressed. Parents, teachers, students, and friends should notice and address any major changes in behavior.

A few signs of concern include:

• Increased irritability
• Increased anxiety
• Frequent worry
• Lack of joy
• Insomnia
• Increased illness
• Trouble concentrating
• Feeling short of breath
• Breathing quickly
• Negative self-talk
• Physical self-harm
• Substance abuse

How do teachers identify student stress?

Student stressing is something teachers must take an active role in identifying. The signs are often mistaken as general behavioral issues or the student’s personality.

In addition to the signs above, teachers should be on the lookout for:

• Any change in student behavior, including a drop in grades and emotions that don’t match the circumstances.
• Withdrawal from friends or extracurricular activities, unless it’s an intentional change to lighten their load.
• Signs of overwhelm, including difficulty making decisions or making an increased number of poor decisions.

How can I stop stressing as a student?

As with all areas of opportunity, the first step is naming it—without shame. Then, you can work with your parents, coach, teacher, and school counselor to personalize your self-care.

This might include:

• Minimizing extracurricular activities
• Committing to a sleep schedule
• Prioritizing nutrition
• Working with a tutor
• Minimizing hours at work
• Talk therapy
• Time management training
• Homework management training
• Personalized self-care

Personalized self-care might include yoga, meditation, mindfulness practices, CBD, and more leisure time with friends and family.

How can teachers help students with stress?

Wondering how to reduce stress in the classroom? This can be an overwhelming task for teachers, as many factors are out of their control. However, there are a variety of things educators can do to minimize their students’ worry, stress, and anxiety.

Listen—if a student isn’t quite themselves, ask them privately if everything is ok. Listen without judgment when they express concerns. Then, ask how you can help and follow up.

Provide tools—teach age-appropriate mindfulness practices, allow time for students to journal about their life, and work with parents and the student counselor to identify personalized solutions. Also, consider creating a safe space in your classroom where students can meditate. A back corner of the classroom works well.

Be encouraging—ensure that students know that you are invested in their education and wellness. This includes their mind, body, and spiritual health as well as their academic, social, and extracurricular success. This can be a fine line, as you don’t want to increase their pressure, so encourage but don’t push.

Explore new options—there is no one-size-fits-all wellness solution. So, confer with your colleagues, in-school resources, and external resources to provide students (and yourself) with additional wellness and stress-management tools.

Time management—technology provides students and teachers with a variety of time management resources. So, consider investing time teaching your students time management best practices. Include study best practices and how to manage and schedule homework, assignments, and test preparation.

Considering CBD?

We mentioned CBD as a self-care practice to manage student stressing. Before you begin taking CBD, ensure you understand if your school or extracurricular activities prohibit use. Some schools only limit possession while on campus. Either way, it is essential to understand the policies you’ve committed to.

If you are looking for Pure, USDA Organic-Certified, and 0.0% THC products—we invite you to shop Holmes Organics.