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Writer's pictureLiz Morrison, LCSW

Stress Management for Students: 7 Ways to Ease the Pressure at School From a Teen Therapist

Updated: Nov 5


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At every level, students are pushed to succeed. In elementary school, you may be afraid to bring a bad report card to your parents. Later on, when you are enrolled in junior high or high school, you may have to start thinking seriously about where you want to go for further education after you graduate. Once you get into college, finances will start to become a concern.


Whether it’s to pay for school, food, or just so you can hang out with your friends and have a healthy social life, you’ll find yourself having to balance working and maintaining your grades in class. All of this can make student life, from first grade to the day you get your degree, very stressful. However, there are ways to help ease the pressure. Here are several tips from a teen therapist for stress management for students.

Stress Management for Students

1. Get Good Sleep


As a student, you have quite a lot going on in a day. You go to class, you go home and study, you work on assignments due the next day, and you may even have to go to work. It’s easy to find yourself sacrificing sleep so that you have more “productive” hours in a day.


However, Studies show that lack of sleep can make stress and anxiety worse. For more information, please click here for more information from the Anxiety and Depression Association of America.

2. Identify and Stick to Your Learning Style


We don’t all learn things the same way. There are auditory learners, visual learners, and kinesthetic learners. Everyone has their own way of learning things. Trying to learn things in a way that doesn’t fit your style can make studying stressful, especially if it feels like you are having trouble retaining the material.


There are many quizzes that you can take online to help learn what style fits you. Here is one option that can help you think about your learning style: EducationPlanner.Org

3. Break Up Your Study Sessions


When you have a big test coming up and you’re walking the tightrope between an A and a B, you may decide that you need to study for hours to get ready for the test. Instead of hours at a time, try breaking it up into smaller study sessions.



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4. Make Your Schedule Ahead of Time


Before the week begins, plan how much time each day you will dedicate to studying. By setting this up beforehand, you can avoid feeling like you have to cram at the last minute. If your class has a Syllabus and you know which assignments will be handed out each day, it will make setting up a schedule even easier.

5. Take a Power Nap


You’re finished with class and it is now time to study. However, you’re having trouble keeping your eyes open. This isn’t uncommon and the best way to handle it is to take a power nap. Research shows that 20-30 minutes is the ideal amount of time to take a nap. Set a timer and catch some Z’s.

6. Organize


You’ve finished studying for your math class and now it’s time to go to bed. The test is in the morning and you want to be sure that you’re well-rested and prepared for it. You turn off the lights and lie down when suddenly it dawns on you: There is an English essay due tomorrow, too! The next day, you find yourself tired due to a lack of sleep because you stayed up to finish the essay.

Take the notes you need. Make sure you keep up with all the assignments that are due and the tests coming up. There is peace in knowing exactly what’s coming up. Last-minute surprises only add to the stress.

7. Don’t Forget Your Personal Life


In the end, you have to take care of yourself too. This includes life outside of school and work. Make friends, take up a hobby, and do something creative. You aren’t a machine, this is just as important as studying.

How can I help? If the stress is still getting to you even after making changes, you may benefit from an evaluation from a mental health professional at Liz Morrison Therapy. Call me at (347) 758-2985 for a free 15-minute phone consultation to discuss the concerns that you are having.


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Find More Relief From Stress With The Help of Therapy for Teens in New York City, Brooklyn, Manhattan, and anywhere else in the state of New York!


Feeling overwhelmed by the stress of adolescence? Take the first step towards a brighter, more resilient future by seeking therapy for teens. Together, we'll explore healthy coping strategies, build resilience, and navigate life's challenges with confidence. Don't let stress hold you back – reach out and start your journey towards inner peace and empowerment. Follow these three simple steps to get started:


1. Contact us to schedule an appointment for Therapy for Teens

2. Begin meeting with a skilled teen therapist

3. Start managing your stress in healthy ways!


Other Services Offered at Liz Morrison Therapy

At Liz Morrison Therapy, we offer services for the whole family. So in addition to helping your teen thrive and manage their stress with therapy for teens, our services also include Parenting Support for those looking to create healthy relationships with their children to help them live their best lives, Young Adult Therapy for individuals looking for support, guidance, and real-world strategies to help them deal with their struggles, and Anxiety Therapy for those wanting to cope with their anxiety in healthy ways. For more about us check out our Blogs and FAQs

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