There is no doubt that schools are piling the on the workload, and not only is there the expectation of schoolwork, but students often feel an increase of pressure to do several activities and succeed in all of them. Whether it is a sport, a job, an application deadline, endless hours of homework, a relationship, or a something else, the times have changed when it comes to what a “good” student needs to look like.

Students often find themselves feeling very stressed during the school year, a feeling that can be physically, mentally and emotionally taxing. Physical signs of stress can be tired eyes, headaches, a feeling of weight on your shoulders, tight muscles, upset stomach, shortness of breath,  a weakened immune system and insomnia. Mental and emotional signs of stress can be anxiety, forgetfulness, pessimism, feeling overwhelmed, and low self esteem.

So why, when heavy work loads and many extracurriculars are the standard, can schools expect us to perform well under these conditions? We are turning into a burned out generation, and by the time we get out of college we will be too exhausted to succeed in the real world.

Although it seems impossible, there are some ways students can be less stressed during the school year. One way is good time management. Procrastinating on assignments and responsibilities will only cause more stress, but staying on top of deadlines and getting things done sooner rather than later will help decrease that last minute frenzy mode we often get from procrastination. For the extremely busy students, good time management skills can include making lists, having a constantly updated calendar, and being aware of deadlines, but it also takes some will power.

One of the many distractors and a frequent cause of stress is a student’s social life. The pressure to see a boyfriend or girlfriend, or even family or a group of friends, is often hard to pass up when you have the burden of writing a paper waiting for you at home. One thing that is very important when it comes to lowering stress is to make sure you are still happy. If seeing those people you love or enjoy time with makes you happy, then don’t cut it out of your life. Instead make time for them amongst the other responsibilities you have. Having a scheduled time to see them will also create a goal for you to work for, and will make the time spent with them more meaningful.

Finding the perfect balance is key. You don’t want all of your time going to those individuals, but you also don’t want to completely isolate yourself to the point where you are not in touch with your friends and family. Another aspect of having good time managements is making sure you don’t over commit. Try going through your extra-curriculars and seeing which one you really don’t need. If there is something you aren’t enjoying, but it is sucking all of your time, then cut it. Stay involved, but stay focused.

This is why willpower is an extremely important aspect of lowering stress. In the end, you are the one who can force yourself to put the phone down or out of sight during homework, tell a friend you can’t spontaneously hang out, and get to work.