Stress: a word that can sometimes make you want to lose your mind. Stress can be brought on by many things, but we all know that, for high schoolers, the primary cause of stress in our lives is school. School-related stress can sometimes feel like it is never going to end, but here are some ideas to help lower your stress level.

1. Exercise. You may feel like when you’re stressed, working out is the last thing you want to do. But studies have shown that when you work out, endorphins disperse throughout your body. Endorphins give you a burst of energy and a new perspective on things that you may have been looking at for hours.
2. Making a cup of tea can help to ease stress, especially the right type of tea. Chamomile is a good choice because it will calm you mentally and physically. Chamomile has shown to lower stress levels by relaxing muscles and putting your mind at ease.
3. Reading a book can help relieve stress because it still challenges the mind while also providing entertainment. Entering the world of a book can allow you to detach from the present, to take your mind off of whatever is causing you stress. Reading lowers your heart rate and eases the tension in your muscles.
4. Try making a to-do list! This activity can act as a major stress-reliever. By writing things down, you can remove all of your racing thoughts from your head and put them onto paper. This allows you to focus on one thing at a time. By making a to-do list, you will realize that you have less to do than you previously thought.

   

5. Try baking! This activity acts as a major stress-reliever. The smells as the cookies are baking can make an escape from the stressful reality that we live in. Also, it allows you to try making things that you didn’t think you could ever create.