Dear Stressed Being

There really is no need to be stressed out right now. Whether you’re a teacher, student, or parent, everything will be ok. The coming warmth of spring, and the shining sun, have already suggested to us that summer is coming. No matter what, we will make it.

There is no sense in worrying over something. It’s good to realize what we should prioritize, and what needs attention. But worrying over something which we know we’ll end up studying, or accomplishing, can become a distraction to our tasks.

Now, since we have addressed our stress levels, let’s focus in on what we need to accomplish this week. Or, if this week is packed, let’s focus on each day as it comes. Some people at my school have exams scheduled back to back – from having two or three exams a day, to having exams every day of this coming week. The best way to attack this situation is to first prioritize what you need to study, then make a schedule including times you’ll spend on each subject, or chapters from each subject. This way, you will know exactly how much time you can sacrifice for a break, and how much time you should dedicate to each subject. Also, if you end up studying along with your schedule, you will go into the exam confident, knowing you did all that you could do to prepare for that exam.

For teachers who have to grade an insane amount of papers, or for parents who are just trying to get your kids to all of their activities on time, there’s no need to worry. Showing your concern for your students through being worried about these things already demonstrates your commitment to your students and kids, and is a sign of your dedication to their success. After acknowledging this truth, let’s now take time to make a to-do list, or a schedule, with what you need to accomplish each day/week. Keep in mind that you might not get to every single thing you have planned, but creating a schedule will give you the ease of mind you’ll need in facing an oncoming conflict.
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For those of you who have upcoming tests, busy weeks, or seemingly too many papers to grade, good luck! But also, good job! The fact that you’re giving thought to these things already shows your dedication to your studies, students, or family.