Many students find the beginning of the school year to be the best time of the year because it seems that it is the least stressful time. In the middle of the school year, especially when tests, clubs and sports come up in students’ schedules, students’ mental health can be negatively affected.

According to an article written by a licensed professional counselor Jodi Clarke, “Being overly busy and exhausted may lead to an increase in stress… This may trigger more serious mental health disorders including anxiety disorder.” Grades play a huge role in that stress, as students feel their grades will affect their future. 

“[I] can never catch a break with finals week,” a junior student at Middleton High School who studies intensely said. GPA, SAT and ACT scores are what colleges look for, so perfecting those scores can lead to lots of stress during this time of year.

“Finals are coming up and I am very stressed about what that means for my grade,” a freshman said.

It is easy for students to be caught up in studying and worrying about how well they will do on the final, but it is very important that students are able to release that stress. Although nothing can take away all the pressure that comes with finals week, acknowledging students’ mental health is more important than ever as finals are just around the corner. Here are a few simple suggestions for how to reduce stress this January.

Hang Out with Friends

Hanging out with friends helps students to forget about studying for a little while, allowing them to have a fresh and clear mind before studying again. It helps students let their minds wander to things other than just school work and tests. 

Write Down How You Feel

Writing down how you feel is another great way to relieve stress because you are able to let out all your feelings, whether it is a positive or negative feeling. Research done by Rochester University showed that “journaling can help you manage anxiety, [and] reduce stress.” 

Talk to a School Counselor

Along with friends, there are many people who can help with the stress that comes. At school there are many counselors who are ready to help at any time. Counselors are there to talk students through their stress caused by finals week. Students can access sign-ups to talk with a counselor at the following link: https://www.mcpasd.k12.wi.us/o/mhs/page/student-services-appointments 

Journal and Listen to Music

On the other hand, some people do not feel comfortable talking with other people, and that is normal. If you want to process on your own, you can listen to music and journal. Journaling releases emotions and allows students to put down thoughts that they do not feel comfortable talking about.

Dr. Carla Manly, a clinical psychologist based in Sonoma County, California said, “Journaling also improves mental health and allows for stress relief, because it can provide a safe space to unload your pent-up thoughts and feelings.” While journaling, some people like to listen to music and scream to let out all the stress that they have been holding in.

Overall, during finals week it is super important to acknowledge where students are with stress and recognize where you are personally with your mental health. It is perfectly normal to feel stress, but there are ways to combat it.