The Future, My Future
by: Eun Biy Ko
“What’s your dream?” I got this question numerous times when I was younger, and now that I’m in the step where I have to work towards my dream, I’m asked this almost every day. Before, it was easy to answer: teacher, doctor, singer, designer, etc. Now, however, I’m more hesitant and careful in answering because it’s not a careless little girl’s dream anymore, it’s reality.
Being a Junior, I’ve reached the point in my life where my decisions matter—really matter. I have to carefully choose what country, what college, what major, what job...it’s an ongoing string of decisions and options that will define what life I will be living. And since they are weightier decisions than the usual, it’s that much harder to decide.
Every time that question was asked or even when I heard someone else talking about his or her future as if they’ve already lived it once, I would spend the whole day pulling my hair out, trying to figure out what path I wanted to follow. It’s not like I don’t have a list of the things I want to do when I grow up, I do, it’s just hard to choose the right job—the one that I will be thrilled and passionate about every single day without fail.
It was in one of these hair-pulling and nail-biting situations when I realized something that completely changed my view about the future. I concluded that a dream is not necessarily a college or a job, it can also mean what type of person I wish to become and how I want to continue my life.
So, what’s my answer to that dreaded question? Happy, my dream is to be happy. My dream is to appreciate my flaws, because both, the good and the bad, shape who I am. My dream is to stop worrying about every single detail in life and just let it happen because I certainly can’t control everything, even if I wish I could. My dream is to overcome all obstacles with my own power to prove to myself that I am a strong, independent woman. My dream is to be someone else’s inspiration, be it my friends or my kids—or even myself. My dream is to see the positives in life, whenever and wherever.
I guess what I’m trying to say is that your future doesn’t only consist of your college and job. So don’t spend most of your time thinking about those two things because that is only a small fraction of your life and they don’t define who you are as a person. At the end of the day, it’s your life, and you have the right to dream about who you want to be, what you want to do—no matter how selfish that sounds.
“The vision that you glorify in your mind, the ideal that you enthrone in your heart—this you will build your life by, and this you will become.” -James Allen
Being a Junior, I’ve reached the point in my life where my decisions matter—really matter. I have to carefully choose what country, what college, what major, what job...it’s an ongoing string of decisions and options that will define what life I will be living. And since they are weightier decisions than the usual, it’s that much harder to decide.
Every time that question was asked or even when I heard someone else talking about his or her future as if they’ve already lived it once, I would spend the whole day pulling my hair out, trying to figure out what path I wanted to follow. It’s not like I don’t have a list of the things I want to do when I grow up, I do, it’s just hard to choose the right job—the one that I will be thrilled and passionate about every single day without fail.
It was in one of these hair-pulling and nail-biting situations when I realized something that completely changed my view about the future. I concluded that a dream is not necessarily a college or a job, it can also mean what type of person I wish to become and how I want to continue my life.
So, what’s my answer to that dreaded question? Happy, my dream is to be happy. My dream is to appreciate my flaws, because both, the good and the bad, shape who I am. My dream is to stop worrying about every single detail in life and just let it happen because I certainly can’t control everything, even if I wish I could. My dream is to overcome all obstacles with my own power to prove to myself that I am a strong, independent woman. My dream is to be someone else’s inspiration, be it my friends or my kids—or even myself. My dream is to see the positives in life, whenever and wherever.
I guess what I’m trying to say is that your future doesn’t only consist of your college and job. So don’t spend most of your time thinking about those two things because that is only a small fraction of your life and they don’t define who you are as a person. At the end of the day, it’s your life, and you have the right to dream about who you want to be, what you want to do—no matter how selfish that sounds.
“The vision that you glorify in your mind, the ideal that you enthrone in your heart—this you will build your life by, and this you will become.” -James Allen
Homework Overload
by: Emma Yee Yick
Homework. The inevitable, stress-provoking, anger-sparking, sleep-revoking burden granted onto students around the world. From Kindergarten all the way to now, my Junior year in high school, I can’t remember not having homework. It’s always been a part of my life and I don’t say that as happily as I would maybe say that soccer has always been a part of my life, or some other routine encompassing activity like that. Of course, back during the first years of my elementary school days, homework was relatively easy, it included things I actually enjoyed doing, like reading for 30 minutes every night, coloring, doing simple math worksheets, and examining my family tree. As I’ve gotten older though, homework has changed and it has turned from something I love doing to something I frankly hate doing. Homework these days is usually correlated with grades, scores, and competition. But that’s not what homework should be about. Homework as well as the school system in general should be fostering passion and interest. Because of this, homework as well as standards cannot be the same for every student. I don’t think homework totally disappearing is a good option. On the other hand, I believe that the quality of homework should be improved and that the quantity should be reduced.
Quality homework means reinforcing or extending classroom learning, being relevant and purposeful, evaluated for understanding rather than just being graded. It should provide a choice for students and should reflect the specific needs and interests of students. Hence, there would be less homework for students to stress about into the wee hours of the morning, and more homework that has actual meaning and that will foster the learning and development of the whole student. It should not just be academic. What homework is fostering right now is the complete opposite: competition, no real learning of information (because homework is largely based on memorizing and copying), and the growth of only the left side of a child’s brain: the logical, analytical, and objective side. While the right side, or the intuitive, thoughtful, and subjective side, is being left to fend for itself. While I am not arguing that the development of the left side of a student’s brain is bad, it does creates an imbalance that most teachers and educators seem to overlook.
In this way, I believe that students will end up being more successful and prepared for the future than they are now, and it will also improve the overall happiness and well being of students around the world. It could also restore an actual love of learning to future generations.
Too often students are merely plagued with this busy work—work that essentially doesn’t render much thought and is mostly a whole lot of copying word for word from the textbook, but work nevertheless that keeps students up till the wee hours of the morning.
Flashback to elementary school. I’m six years old and sitting “criss cross applesauce” on my living room couch. Up until then I always had to read out loud, because that was the only way I knew how. I would read out loud to myself, to my dolls, to my little brother, to my parents, to anyone who would listen really. I marveled at how adults could so easily read without having to let the words slip out from their mouths, instead they could just hear the words in their mind. At age six, that was my sole aspiration in life—to learn to read in my head. I was six, and in first grade. I would sit for hours and just try and try and try. I always would get frustrated when I would be trying and then I’d hear my own voice whispering the words. Then one day, I got it, and I was so proud of myself. One minute I was an average six-year-old reading her books out loud, the next I was Emma, six year old extraordinaire, reading those words inside my head just like an adult, and it felt incredible. I wanted to show everybody, but of course, that was pretty hard considering I was, in fact, reading inside my head which meant I couldn’t really ‘show’ anyone. But I didn’t care, I still tried. In that moment I realized how much I loved to learn. I loved the mystery, the challenge, the excitement and the pure joy it provided. In that moment, it dawned on me just how much there was to learn in the world, and that made me incredibly happy.
That’s what learning should be like for everyone. It shouldn’t be something that students dread and stress over. This is what teachers, parents, and educators of the world should be remembering, a child’s love of learning is always there; it is sparked from that certain time and place in their lives when they make discoveries. This is when their eyes light up, their heart starts to beat just a little faster, where for a second, learning seems like the most amazing thing on the planet. Today’s education system (and homework) should foster and stimulate this passion, not douse the flame of learning.
Quality homework means reinforcing or extending classroom learning, being relevant and purposeful, evaluated for understanding rather than just being graded. It should provide a choice for students and should reflect the specific needs and interests of students. Hence, there would be less homework for students to stress about into the wee hours of the morning, and more homework that has actual meaning and that will foster the learning and development of the whole student. It should not just be academic. What homework is fostering right now is the complete opposite: competition, no real learning of information (because homework is largely based on memorizing and copying), and the growth of only the left side of a child’s brain: the logical, analytical, and objective side. While the right side, or the intuitive, thoughtful, and subjective side, is being left to fend for itself. While I am not arguing that the development of the left side of a student’s brain is bad, it does creates an imbalance that most teachers and educators seem to overlook.
In this way, I believe that students will end up being more successful and prepared for the future than they are now, and it will also improve the overall happiness and well being of students around the world. It could also restore an actual love of learning to future generations.
Too often students are merely plagued with this busy work—work that essentially doesn’t render much thought and is mostly a whole lot of copying word for word from the textbook, but work nevertheless that keeps students up till the wee hours of the morning.
Flashback to elementary school. I’m six years old and sitting “criss cross applesauce” on my living room couch. Up until then I always had to read out loud, because that was the only way I knew how. I would read out loud to myself, to my dolls, to my little brother, to my parents, to anyone who would listen really. I marveled at how adults could so easily read without having to let the words slip out from their mouths, instead they could just hear the words in their mind. At age six, that was my sole aspiration in life—to learn to read in my head. I was six, and in first grade. I would sit for hours and just try and try and try. I always would get frustrated when I would be trying and then I’d hear my own voice whispering the words. Then one day, I got it, and I was so proud of myself. One minute I was an average six-year-old reading her books out loud, the next I was Emma, six year old extraordinaire, reading those words inside my head just like an adult, and it felt incredible. I wanted to show everybody, but of course, that was pretty hard considering I was, in fact, reading inside my head which meant I couldn’t really ‘show’ anyone. But I didn’t care, I still tried. In that moment I realized how much I loved to learn. I loved the mystery, the challenge, the excitement and the pure joy it provided. In that moment, it dawned on me just how much there was to learn in the world, and that made me incredibly happy.
That’s what learning should be like for everyone. It shouldn’t be something that students dread and stress over. This is what teachers, parents, and educators of the world should be remembering, a child’s love of learning is always there; it is sparked from that certain time and place in their lives when they make discoveries. This is when their eyes light up, their heart starts to beat just a little faster, where for a second, learning seems like the most amazing thing on the planet. Today’s education system (and homework) should foster and stimulate this passion, not douse the flame of learning.
A Maya "Tradition"
Submission by: Lisa LoPresti
First of all, I'll admit...I'm not all that keen on talent shows as a whole. I never have been. It is probably due to my drama background and the strangeness of taking something out of context. But I DO understand how important they are for schools and have been involved in many. However, only here at Maya has the HS Talent Show been a competition.
To be quite honest, as a drama teacher and even just as a teacher here at Maya, I'm appalled that our HS Talent Show IS a competition and that it has been for quite awhile....a Maya tradition. The arts should NOT be competitive at a school level. The arts are not sports! Sports are competitive in nature, but not the arts.
I felt this way before, but it was totally reinforced by my recent experience at Drama AASCA, which is supposedly a “friendly competition”, in which everyone is rated against a rubric. Well, if it only consisted of being rated against a rubric and getting that feedback, it would have been wonderful. But that rubric then controlled who got gold, silver and bronze, so it was ultimately a competition. We all loved watching all the schools perform and interacting with the other drama students, but the competitive aspect definitely took a toll, especially in the improv category which was done as a full-on competition. Even the special guest at AASCA Drama, Sherry Sutton, was appalled at the competitive nature. In a conversation with me, she said, “The arts should never be competitive until the highest professional level is attained, like the Tony Awards or Academy Awards, but never at a HS level.” She told me that as much as she enjoyed working with the AASCA students, when she gave several improv workshops, she would never act as a judge again for AASCA unless the competitive aspect was removed. I feel the same!
So, back to the HS Talent Show...a competition for a monetary prize. That part also floors me! Each person must audition to get in and then, if they make it through the auditions (which I think everyone does), they HAVE TO PAY TO PERFORM!! Unbelievable! All the contestants pay and then that money is given to the winner. Is this a talent show or a football pool (which is gambling, by the way)?
OK...what do I believe in?? I believe in the performing arts for the sake of the performing arts. I love the idea of students showing off their talent (come on, I am a drama teacher) and performing in front of an audience. Performance skills are one of the most important skills every Maya student will use in the future. Not only do they build confidence, they generate a sense of community, instill values, foster dedication and provide authentic assessment. Look at the Elem. Talent Show which was performed this past Friday. What a delightful presentation with no prizes in sight – just gutsy elementary students performing their little hearts out for the experience of it.
In conclusion, it is my firm belief that this type of competitive talent show needs to be abolished. Is this the way we exhibit the Maya Spirit?? It seems totally opposite to everything we hold true at CM. I think maybe HS needs to take a lesson from Elementary on this one and re-think this tradition.
To be quite honest, as a drama teacher and even just as a teacher here at Maya, I'm appalled that our HS Talent Show IS a competition and that it has been for quite awhile....a Maya tradition. The arts should NOT be competitive at a school level. The arts are not sports! Sports are competitive in nature, but not the arts.
I felt this way before, but it was totally reinforced by my recent experience at Drama AASCA, which is supposedly a “friendly competition”, in which everyone is rated against a rubric. Well, if it only consisted of being rated against a rubric and getting that feedback, it would have been wonderful. But that rubric then controlled who got gold, silver and bronze, so it was ultimately a competition. We all loved watching all the schools perform and interacting with the other drama students, but the competitive aspect definitely took a toll, especially in the improv category which was done as a full-on competition. Even the special guest at AASCA Drama, Sherry Sutton, was appalled at the competitive nature. In a conversation with me, she said, “The arts should never be competitive until the highest professional level is attained, like the Tony Awards or Academy Awards, but never at a HS level.” She told me that as much as she enjoyed working with the AASCA students, when she gave several improv workshops, she would never act as a judge again for AASCA unless the competitive aspect was removed. I feel the same!
So, back to the HS Talent Show...a competition for a monetary prize. That part also floors me! Each person must audition to get in and then, if they make it through the auditions (which I think everyone does), they HAVE TO PAY TO PERFORM!! Unbelievable! All the contestants pay and then that money is given to the winner. Is this a talent show or a football pool (which is gambling, by the way)?
OK...what do I believe in?? I believe in the performing arts for the sake of the performing arts. I love the idea of students showing off their talent (come on, I am a drama teacher) and performing in front of an audience. Performance skills are one of the most important skills every Maya student will use in the future. Not only do they build confidence, they generate a sense of community, instill values, foster dedication and provide authentic assessment. Look at the Elem. Talent Show which was performed this past Friday. What a delightful presentation with no prizes in sight – just gutsy elementary students performing their little hearts out for the experience of it.
In conclusion, it is my firm belief that this type of competitive talent show needs to be abolished. Is this the way we exhibit the Maya Spirit?? It seems totally opposite to everything we hold true at CM. I think maybe HS needs to take a lesson from Elementary on this one and re-think this tradition.
Things You Don't Have to Worry About
by: Olivia Benecke
As the end of the school year comes closer and closer, it seems as though everything is happening all at once. AP exams, SATs, finals, and projects.The list goes on for what feels like forever. With all of this in mind, it’s fair to assume that your stress level has broken any and all scales. That’s why I’m here to say… KNOCK IT OFF! Too much stress is extremely bad for you, and, believe it or not, the majority of the things you feel stressed about are not even a little bit worth it. In addition to academics, there are countless other little things you can check off of your stress list. Here, I’ve listed a few in hopes that you’ll calm down!
1. Your SAT scores- Here’s a little secret that they don’t want you to know: These scores do not define you, and they will not follow you for the rest of your life. Be ready for the test, but don’t for a second think that your scores will make or break you.
2. What other people think of you- Yes, we live in a world surrounded by rumors and reputations that seem like they mean everything in the moment. I promise you, however, that this is not the case. The only person you need to be concerned with pleasing is you. What other people have to say about you is none of your business. The best thing you can be is happy!
3. How you look- We’re all gorgeous in our own little way. Don’t even bother reaching for a mirror, I’ll tell you how you look right now—ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE.
4. That test you have next week- Be mindful of this, but not worried. If you’re like me and have insane test anxiety, remind yourself that 10 years from now, or even 5, this little test in chemistry or psychology or algebra won’t mean a thing to you. Chances are you won’t even remember it. All that you’ll be able to remember is how stressed out you let it make you.
5. The future or the past- Why spend your precious now worrying about what already did and what may or may not happen? Doing this will only take time away from the most beautiful thing you have—the present. You are awesome, and any mistakes you have made have only contributed to this awesomeness, and because you are so amazing, the future can’t hold anything but great things for you, right? Seize the day!
6. Dying- This is perhaps the hardest thing all of us must acknowledge: we’re all going to die. No one is immune from death. But believe it or not, this is a really, really good thing. If we were to live forever, life wouldn’t mean a thing. Days would not be precious, moments would not be significant, and memories would not be cherished. Knowing that it will end is what makes life so special- so make it count.
7. Who you’ll turn out to be- If you keep an open mind and throw your heart and soul into everything you do there’s only one thing you can possibly be: amazing.
8. What you can’t do- I know it’s extremely frustrating when you want so badly to be good at something and you just frankly aren’t. Don’t let this stress you out! Remind yourself that for everything you can’t do, there are five things you can. Secret: no one is good at everything.
9. AP exams- Be aware of them, but don’t let them intimidate you. Once again, your score won’t change you as a person, nor will it make you any more or less worthy. Life exists beyond test scores, I promise.
It’s no secret that life comes with its shares of ups and downs, but one thing is for sure—everything is going to be ok! It always is, so don’t sweat the small stuff.
1. Your SAT scores- Here’s a little secret that they don’t want you to know: These scores do not define you, and they will not follow you for the rest of your life. Be ready for the test, but don’t for a second think that your scores will make or break you.
2. What other people think of you- Yes, we live in a world surrounded by rumors and reputations that seem like they mean everything in the moment. I promise you, however, that this is not the case. The only person you need to be concerned with pleasing is you. What other people have to say about you is none of your business. The best thing you can be is happy!
3. How you look- We’re all gorgeous in our own little way. Don’t even bother reaching for a mirror, I’ll tell you how you look right now—ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE.
4. That test you have next week- Be mindful of this, but not worried. If you’re like me and have insane test anxiety, remind yourself that 10 years from now, or even 5, this little test in chemistry or psychology or algebra won’t mean a thing to you. Chances are you won’t even remember it. All that you’ll be able to remember is how stressed out you let it make you.
5. The future or the past- Why spend your precious now worrying about what already did and what may or may not happen? Doing this will only take time away from the most beautiful thing you have—the present. You are awesome, and any mistakes you have made have only contributed to this awesomeness, and because you are so amazing, the future can’t hold anything but great things for you, right? Seize the day!
6. Dying- This is perhaps the hardest thing all of us must acknowledge: we’re all going to die. No one is immune from death. But believe it or not, this is a really, really good thing. If we were to live forever, life wouldn’t mean a thing. Days would not be precious, moments would not be significant, and memories would not be cherished. Knowing that it will end is what makes life so special- so make it count.
7. Who you’ll turn out to be- If you keep an open mind and throw your heart and soul into everything you do there’s only one thing you can possibly be: amazing.
8. What you can’t do- I know it’s extremely frustrating when you want so badly to be good at something and you just frankly aren’t. Don’t let this stress you out! Remind yourself that for everything you can’t do, there are five things you can. Secret: no one is good at everything.
9. AP exams- Be aware of them, but don’t let them intimidate you. Once again, your score won’t change you as a person, nor will it make you any more or less worthy. Life exists beyond test scores, I promise.
It’s no secret that life comes with its shares of ups and downs, but one thing is for sure—everything is going to be ok! It always is, so don’t sweat the small stuff.
Tips for De-stressing
by: Shreeja Bhattacharjee
What’s that thumping on the door? It’s a delivery! And it looks big! How exciting! What could it be? Seems like it’s a huge, beautifully wrapped box of...stress! Yay! As this year ends, APs approach, workloads increase exponentially, and you become one step closer to deciding your future. Levels of stress are no joke, especially for students. As such, I have decided to humbly share some de-stressing tips with you.
1) Chocolate. Oh blissful, sweet, creamy chocolate. It’s what everyone needs in their life. Do you have fears that you will remain by yourself by the rest of your life? Don’t worry, it’s going to be alright (no, this is not an article on how to find your soul-mate). The solution here is chocolate. Studies have shown that eating chocolate (especially dark chocolate) actually releases serotonin, phenylethylamine, and dopamine when you eat it. These hormones are in fact the same chemicals excreted in a person’s brain when they fall in love! While this may seem completely unrelated to stress, there is a very strong correlation-by increasing your levels of happiness and relaxation, you de-stress. More studies have revealed that eating chocolate actually decreases cortisol levels, which is what is responsible for your level of stress. Essentially, you get a nice dose of happy chemicals and less stress and a layer of fat. Yes, that comes along with it as a package deal; however, you could always exercise. And before you start laughing, exercise also helps your stress level. Enough of the scientific analysis , the next point!
2) Friends. What usually happens is that stress starts to pile up, much like the clump of dirty laundry lying somewhere in your room. Don’t lie, we all have one. Essentially though, when stress becomes too much, there are times when we start to act like idiots and think irrationally. At times like these, we need our trusty friends to give us a metaphorical slap in the face and say, “Calm down. Earth isn’t going to implode just yet.” I have most recently discovered that just talking about your stress with other people lessens the burden for some reason. Whether it’s a huge rant of just a normal talk about how life isn’t the best right now, it’s an excellent way to get it out of your system. Even better, sometimes your friends can help you formulate strategies as to how to deal with it or simplify it for you. Often times, we over complicate things and make them to be bigger than they actually are- and a friend will help calm you down and remind you that it isn't so bad. When it's hard to keep walking, friends will be the pillars that support you and keep you going.
3) Laughter. Watch some funny tele! And by this I do not mean watching TV shows to escape the immense amount of homework you know that you have. Research shows that it is more effective to study hard for 90 minutes and take a 15-20 minute break for maximum productivity. During those breaks, watch maybe a Youtube video that you find funny. Beware though, there is the danger of falling into a cycle of procrastination,so do NOT go on playlist mode. For maximum effect, finish all your homework, then get your favorite snack and watch to your heart’s content, but make sure to get some sleep.
*Here’s a very helpful page on productivity: http://www.sparringmind.com/productivity-science/
4) Sleep and Exercise. These are both helpful (though I personally prefer the first one—who doesn’t though?). Going back to the research, it’s been found that when people don’t get enough sleep, they start to lose willpower very fast. Your ability to work also gets greatly hampered. So if you think just working is going to help even if you’re tired, it’s not. It’s actually better to take maybe an one hour nap, shorter or longer if you wish, so that you come back refreshed.While this seems like a waste of time, it isn’t. Once you wake up, your brain will be charged up and you will be working faster than before. Even if you feel groggy, you’ll still be working more efficiently. Aside from that, you could also exercise, but before you start groaning, this will help. Exercising releases happy hormones (endorphins) which, will, make you happy. In a time of stress, who doesn’t need a dose of happiness? While you’re at it, why not get a better body too? Lastly, you could do very intense exercise to help release your frustration like running or boxing or even simply punching a bag. For whatever reason, there is something very satisfying about pouring your anger and stress onto a punching bag.
5) Music. This works for some people and not for others. I personally find music very calming and sometimes when I don’t feel like working, it gets me pumped up to work. Other times, listening to it is nice just because it feels so good. There is a scientific explanation behind this but I’m not going to elaborate. If you feel like you are wasting time, listen to it when you have nothing else to do—such as riding the bus or even exercising. The right song can make your day better!
These are all some small tips to help you de-stress. As mentioned before though, make sure you are not doing these to run away from your work in the hope it will disappear. It will not simply disappear no matter how much you wish. However, there are times when we stress more than we should be, and these tips will help calm you down.
1) Chocolate. Oh blissful, sweet, creamy chocolate. It’s what everyone needs in their life. Do you have fears that you will remain by yourself by the rest of your life? Don’t worry, it’s going to be alright (no, this is not an article on how to find your soul-mate). The solution here is chocolate. Studies have shown that eating chocolate (especially dark chocolate) actually releases serotonin, phenylethylamine, and dopamine when you eat it. These hormones are in fact the same chemicals excreted in a person’s brain when they fall in love! While this may seem completely unrelated to stress, there is a very strong correlation-by increasing your levels of happiness and relaxation, you de-stress. More studies have revealed that eating chocolate actually decreases cortisol levels, which is what is responsible for your level of stress. Essentially, you get a nice dose of happy chemicals and less stress and a layer of fat. Yes, that comes along with it as a package deal; however, you could always exercise. And before you start laughing, exercise also helps your stress level. Enough of the scientific analysis , the next point!
2) Friends. What usually happens is that stress starts to pile up, much like the clump of dirty laundry lying somewhere in your room. Don’t lie, we all have one. Essentially though, when stress becomes too much, there are times when we start to act like idiots and think irrationally. At times like these, we need our trusty friends to give us a metaphorical slap in the face and say, “Calm down. Earth isn’t going to implode just yet.” I have most recently discovered that just talking about your stress with other people lessens the burden for some reason. Whether it’s a huge rant of just a normal talk about how life isn’t the best right now, it’s an excellent way to get it out of your system. Even better, sometimes your friends can help you formulate strategies as to how to deal with it or simplify it for you. Often times, we over complicate things and make them to be bigger than they actually are- and a friend will help calm you down and remind you that it isn't so bad. When it's hard to keep walking, friends will be the pillars that support you and keep you going.
3) Laughter. Watch some funny tele! And by this I do not mean watching TV shows to escape the immense amount of homework you know that you have. Research shows that it is more effective to study hard for 90 minutes and take a 15-20 minute break for maximum productivity. During those breaks, watch maybe a Youtube video that you find funny. Beware though, there is the danger of falling into a cycle of procrastination,so do NOT go on playlist mode. For maximum effect, finish all your homework, then get your favorite snack and watch to your heart’s content, but make sure to get some sleep.
*Here’s a very helpful page on productivity: http://www.sparringmind.com/productivity-science/
4) Sleep and Exercise. These are both helpful (though I personally prefer the first one—who doesn’t though?). Going back to the research, it’s been found that when people don’t get enough sleep, they start to lose willpower very fast. Your ability to work also gets greatly hampered. So if you think just working is going to help even if you’re tired, it’s not. It’s actually better to take maybe an one hour nap, shorter or longer if you wish, so that you come back refreshed.While this seems like a waste of time, it isn’t. Once you wake up, your brain will be charged up and you will be working faster than before. Even if you feel groggy, you’ll still be working more efficiently. Aside from that, you could also exercise, but before you start groaning, this will help. Exercising releases happy hormones (endorphins) which, will, make you happy. In a time of stress, who doesn’t need a dose of happiness? While you’re at it, why not get a better body too? Lastly, you could do very intense exercise to help release your frustration like running or boxing or even simply punching a bag. For whatever reason, there is something very satisfying about pouring your anger and stress onto a punching bag.
5) Music. This works for some people and not for others. I personally find music very calming and sometimes when I don’t feel like working, it gets me pumped up to work. Other times, listening to it is nice just because it feels so good. There is a scientific explanation behind this but I’m not going to elaborate. If you feel like you are wasting time, listen to it when you have nothing else to do—such as riding the bus or even exercising. The right song can make your day better!
These are all some small tips to help you de-stress. As mentioned before though, make sure you are not doing these to run away from your work in the hope it will disappear. It will not simply disappear no matter how much you wish. However, there are times when we stress more than we should be, and these tips will help calm you down.
How to Relieve Stress
Submission by: Sory Park
What is stress? Stress is when you carry more than you normally do. When you are stressed, hormones in your body multiply your heart’s speed, you breathe faster, and fill you with energy. Stress is not always wrong because it can help you work hard and react quickly. For example, if you’re at a race, your stress can help you move faster. However, if stress stays for a very long time, it could negatively and painfully affect you in the form of headaches, back pains, sleeping problems, and stomachaches. It is especially worse if it happens to those who already have health problems.
Guess what? There are ways to reduce your stress, so don’t worry about it too much!
1. Create a calendar- Try to organize your schedule. Arrange your tasks from most important to least important. The more organized you are, the faster you’ll complete your task. Try to avoid procrastination because it can suddenly boost up your stress at the very last minute.
2. Health- Maintain your soul, mind, and body healthy. Take a comfortable and deep sleep at night, eat healthy, exercise, and try to avoid excessive alcohol/smoking.
3. Say “no”- Don’t get stuck in one thought forever. Whenever you have a conflict, don’t allow yourself to look for a solution. You have two choices: say “no” or write down the question and talk to a friend, teacher, family member, or anyone close to you.
4. Speak up- Don’t hold on to your thoughts with you. If you have any questions, concerns, or problems, stand up and say what you think. The more you stay quiet, the higher your stress rises.
Guess what? There are ways to reduce your stress, so don’t worry about it too much!
1. Create a calendar- Try to organize your schedule. Arrange your tasks from most important to least important. The more organized you are, the faster you’ll complete your task. Try to avoid procrastination because it can suddenly boost up your stress at the very last minute.
2. Health- Maintain your soul, mind, and body healthy. Take a comfortable and deep sleep at night, eat healthy, exercise, and try to avoid excessive alcohol/smoking.
3. Say “no”- Don’t get stuck in one thought forever. Whenever you have a conflict, don’t allow yourself to look for a solution. You have two choices: say “no” or write down the question and talk to a friend, teacher, family member, or anyone close to you.
4. Speak up- Don’t hold on to your thoughts with you. If you have any questions, concerns, or problems, stand up and say what you think. The more you stay quiet, the higher your stress rises.