Can you believe it’s already almost March? From starting the second semester to major changes in our social environment, it seems like the last two months have just flown by. It is not surprising that many people are dealing with an abundance of emotions such as stress, anxiety, and burnout. However, it is important to remember that it’s ok not to be ok.
I have also experienced stress and severe burnout lately. I feel like I have an endless amount of schoolwork to do, and trying to balance that with my other hobbies and self-care can be exhausting. There have been countless days where I find myself having to work on my biology homework, study for a chemistry test, attend math tutoring, and write an essay all in one night. Sleep has not been my friend recently.
Oftentimes, I find myself neglecting self care in order to get all my academic work done. This is inevitable among us teenagers, which is all the more reason to talk about our mental health. We might think that we have everything in control, but sometimes stress can creep up on you. It is extremely important to take care of yourself, both physically and mentally. Some things that have helped me relieve my stress are exercising, taking a bath, and going for a drive. All these activities take my mind off my current situation, and help me feel refreshed.
As many of you know, studying for four hours straight actually does not help you cram more stuff into your brain. In fact, it actually can overwhelm and distract you. It is recommended to take a 15 minute break for every 45 minutes of studying done. I know it’s sometimes hard to do this– there are lots of instances when I feel like I have no time to rest because of the amount of things I have to do. But in the long run, neglecting yourself can be very harmful.
Please, if you’re reading this, take a break. Go on a walk, take a nap, do something you love. And I hope you know that you’re not alone. We all have days when we feel like we are drowning in pressure. But you have to think in the long run, and that involves taking care of yourself. Eat nutritious food, talk to your friends, and make sure to get at least a little bit of sleep. And if you feel like you need to talk to someone, don’t hesitate to reach out for help. Calgary has a variety of different services that can provide help to you.
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