With second semester comes stress–and lots of it. Student stress is on the rise with the start of the new year as teachers start to give out assignment after assignment. With piles of homework each night, multiple tests to study for at a time, and just trying to be a normal teenager, students are no strangers to stress. It’s natural to become a bit overwhelmed when having too many things on your plate every now and then, but this is a constant thing for students.

“What seems to be more frustrating than anything is not the actual assigning of the work, but the amount that’s assigned,” said senior, Tyler Truss.

Many teachers do not seem to realize that most students have up to 6 other classes that assign work each  night as well. On top of all of that, several students are also involved in multiple extracurricular activities both inside and outside of school, meaning that there are often meetings and/or practices they have to attend, including sports events that can last several hours. Some students are also employed, working late hours without time to complete all the assignments they were given.

An annual survey by the American Psychological Association found students are not only worrying about balancing school work and extracurricular activities, but also their social life. 64 percent of students reported stressing out about romantic relationships, problems with friends, and their younger siblings. With all the work they have to do and things outside of school, stress slowly breaks them down and causes their grades to go from good to okay, and from okay to bad. Which can prove to be detrimental to their averages.

“Trying to complete out of class assignments can be too much to bear at times, making juggling personal, work, and school life one of the hardest things I’ve ever attempted,”said Truss.

Not only can stress impact your grades, but it can have a negative impact on your health as well. The APA’s annual survey also revealed that 30 percent of teens reported being depressed as a result of stress.

High school students have a hard time handling all that is being thrown at them and tend to cope with their stress in the easiest and most of the time unhealthy ways. As tempting as taking a nap may sound, sleeping away your problems will not work. Using a nap to avoid finishing an assignment will just waste time and will result in more stress in the long run. The more you sleep the more tired you actually end up feeling and as a result, you will find it hard to focus when you eventually get back to your work. Teenagers tend to eat a lot even when they aren’t hungry but because they’re bored or stressed. Stress eating is extremely unhealthy. Reaching for your favorite potato chips or candy bar may make you feel good for the moment, but you’ll regret it later. If you do that every time you get stressed you’ll be eating constantly, and that can lead to weight gain, gastrointestinal issues, and even more stress. Although it may be easy to take shelter under your covers and sleep or to grab a big bag of chips, it will only hurt you in the long run.

While all the unhealthy options are some of the most tempting, there are many simple, healthy, solutions that you could do in just a few minutes. Getting rid of your stress could be as easy just taking a break from your work. Going outside, getting fresh air, and absorbing your surroundings can really take your focus off your worries. Exercising, praying,and taking baths are all really good ways to cope with your stress as well. Some long term coping methods involve eating healthier foods. Don’t eat ice cream every time you’re feeling overwhelmed, even if it makes you feel better in that moment. Students have also found that having a daily routine helps them keep their stress levels low. Try setting an alarm to go to bed and make it the same for every night. If your stress has become too much to handle try talking to someone and get some help for yourself.

Don’t let school, work, or life take control. Take a few minutes to step away from everything and relax.