Tianna and Jamie, students from Form 5 Delonix and Form 5 Cassia respectively, sharing some practical tips on managing stress. They covered various aspects, sharing some useful strategies and talking about how physical exercises can help cope with stress.
Written by Tianna Lau (Form 5) & Jamie Then (Form 5)
Tianna: Good morning, everyone! I’m Tianna from Form 5 Delonix.
Jamie: Good morning! I’m Jamie from Form 5 Cassia. Today, we’re going to talk about something that affects all of us—stress!
Tianna: That’s right, Jamie. As we know, stress can come from many sources: schoolwork, exams, and even personal challenges. But the good news is that there are effective ways to manage it!
Jamie: Absolutely! Let’s start with some practical tips on managing stress. First, time management.
Tianna: Time management has always been a significant challenge for us. Personally, besides keeping up with my academics, I also have piano practice and a regular internship related to animals to prepare for university. Balancing my work life with personal time can be exhausting and overwhelming. I’m also trying to make time for quality moments with friends and family, as well as pursuing my hobbies.
Jamie: It’s good to hear that you’re striking a good work-life balance, Tianna! One of my new year’s resolutions last year was to have better time management, and that’s when I decided to get a monthly planner – basically just a calendar in a small, thin booklet that I could take anywhere. I would write everything in this small booklet: my schedule, schoolwork deadlines, etc. Thankfully, I’ve been able to keep track of my day-to-day life much better since. What do you think, Tianna?
Tianna: Yes, I agree. Creating a schedule can help you prioritize tasks and avoid last-minute cramming while providing a clearer vision of how to spend your valuable time. We could start by making a list of what you need to accomplish and allocate specific times for each task.
Jamie: Another great tip is to take small breaks. It might sound counterintuitive, but stepping away from your work for a few minutes can actually boost your productivity and help clear your mind. Back in Form 4, I remember sitting down to work on certain projects for hours on end– except, it would only be so long until I lost focus, and my productivity dropped. I found that stepping away from my desk to stretch my body, get some water and even scroll through a few Instagram reels helped my mind refresh, and I was able to return to my work with new ideas.
Tianna: Other than that, don’t forget about exercise! Physical activity is a fantastic way to relieve stress. Even a short walk or doing some stretching can make a big difference. Recently, I’ve started focusing more on staying active, and I feel so much better now, and can feel my stress level has been reduced.
Jamie: Let’s also talk about the importance of mindfulness and relaxation. Practices like deep breathing, meditation, or even listening to music can help calm your mind. I started meditating regularly when I was feeling especially stressed at the beginning of this year. Through mindfulness meditation, I was able to take a minute to bring my focus away from the stress of academics, extracurriculars and the hardships of my life. By putting the focus on the physical phenomena around me, it helped me feel more at ease and ready to tackle my work again when I felt like I couldn’t!
Tianna: Exactly! And remember, it’s always okay to ask for help. Whether it’s talking to a teacher, a friend, or a counselor, sharing your feelings can lighten the load.
Jamie: Now, the Chinese New Year break is coming up, and I’m wondering if we have any plans for how we aim to spend it…Well, I don’t, so let’s think about the nearer future instead. (cue) How are you going to plan for your weekend, Tianna?
Tianna: I’m a big morning person, so I try to stick with a strict sleeping schedule, which I usually wake up at 7. Waking up early makes me feel more energized and productive. Throughout the day, I make sure to take breaks in between work, and most importantly, I prioritize my mental and emotional well-being. One of my biggest tips for boosting efficiency is to limit social media scrolling. Doomscrolling can consume lots of your time without you even noticing. What about you, Jamie? How will you spend your weekend?
Jamie: For this week, at least, I plan to use the weekend mainly to rest and recharge. In a world where many of us are pushed to the limits of our physical and mental performance, it’s easy to forget that rest remains essential to the maintenance of our well-being. This doesn’t mean doomscrolling, which, as Tianna just explained, can be addictive and seems to mindlessly make time go faster. I mean real restful activities that don’t fill us up with dopamine: taking a walk, reading a book that’s collecting dust on your shelf, or honestly even just doing nothing in particular.
Tianna: That’s very true. Stress is a natural part of life. It’s important that we learn how to manage it effectively. By implementing these strategies, we can navigate our responsibilities with greater ease and confidence.
Jamie: We’re all in this together! Let’s support one another in finding balance and maintaining our well-being as we pursue our goals.
Tianna: Thank you for your attention! Let’s take care of ourselves and each other as we move forward together!