So I know with APs (some people I know have something like four, just this week….O.o) there’s a lot of stress going around. I don’t know if you have a system to destress, but sometimes it’s good to take a step back from studying and breathe. According to this website (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/09/stress-relief-that-works_n_3842511.html), there are actually a lot of ways to relax without wasting too much study time. Here are some of my favorites…
- Take a Walk: Even just walking around your block or something. I did this yesterday (for a photo project) and it helps get your mind off things for a little while.
- Do Yoga! Pretty relevant, because we were just talking about religion and yoga and such in class and on the blogger (thanks Sienna!) Even just breathing exercises help. Check out this website (it has some brief exercises you can do): http://greatist.com/happiness/breathing-exercises-relax
- Hang out with friends. Laughing and being with close friends helps, and honestly, I’d take any recommendation that tells me to take a break from studying ;)
Do you guys have any other ways you destress, especially around AP testing and finals?
Thanks for the shout out Julia!... (; I had another suggestion for destressing, and that is watching a funny movie. If you don't have enough time to sit through an hour long movie, then a viral YouTube video does the trick too. But it is scientifically proven that laughter relieves stress and gives you energy! It has worked for me many times when I just needed a breather before attempting the task of studying.
ReplyDeleteSome other tips found on:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/09/stress-relief-that-works_n_3842511.html
Thanks for the shout out Julia!... (; I had another suggestion for destressing, and that is watching a funny movie. If you don't have enough time to sit through an hour long movie, then a viral YouTube video does the trick too. But it is scientifically proven that laughter relieves stress and gives you energy! It has worked for me many times when I just needed a breather before attempting the task of studying.
ReplyDeleteSome other tips found on:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/09/stress-relief-that-works_n_3842511.html
Well, since you asked, I think sleep is a major destresser! Going to bed earlier, even if that means I have to wake up a little earlier leaves me feeling less stressed and more prepared than staying up all night.
ReplyDeleteI wish I saw this earlier... haha hi Julia
ReplyDeleteFor those who are getting ready for the second week of AP testing, remember to not cram the night before your test, especially if it's a morning test. Just breathe, sleep at a decent time (as in not 3 am) and eat well. If it helps, listen to soothing music before sleeping, and remember, no matter how many times everyone around you says it, AP test scores will not determine the rest of your life. Think about it: when you get to college and look back, you'll probably laugh at how much you stressed about such easy tests (and then cry over the hard college tests but don't worry about that for now).
What I do to keep my workload manageable is to make a list of all the big events (like ap tests or the due dates of big projects etc), and then each day break off a small one-hour chunk from each task. That way, you always feel like you're accomplishing something. This is particularly helpful when I'm studying for a big test and I'm not sure exactly what to do--if I give myself a concrete task (e.g. make a handwritten timeline of events in African American history by leafing through the textbook/review guide), then at the end of the hour I will feel like I've actually been productive and I'll be able to measure my productivity in a concrete way. :)
ReplyDeleteWhat I do to keep my workload manageable is to make a list of all the big events (like ap tests or the due dates of big projects etc), and then each day break off a small one-hour chunk from each task. That way, you always feel like you're accomplishing something. This is particularly helpful when I'm studying for a big test and I'm not sure exactly what to do--if I give myself a concrete task (e.g. make a handwritten timeline of events in African American history by leafing through the textbook/review guide), then at the end of the hour I will feel like I've actually been productive and I'll be able to measure my productivity in a concrete way. :)
ReplyDelete