Studies show that the number one stressor in teens is worrying about maintaining good grades, closely followed by keeping up with demanding sport schedules and not giving into peer pressure. Those top three causes can all be found in a high school. It is so important to carve time out of these over scheduled days to balance yourself and reset.
Imagine a place filled with plants, more books than you could read, quietness, and all types of seats. Luckily, this place is available to all of the students at Green High School. It’s no other than our very own library. Not only does going to the library give one a chance to catch up on homework, but I also found that it is the perfect place to find a comfy spot and read a good book. It helps me to be more productive with my workload, and overall improves my mood. I am able to split my school day in half with 43 minutes of reading, and this has helped me to reset and refocus for my classes the second half of the day. It has become the time of day I most look forward to.
If you’re anything like me, you might think you’re not a “reading person.” I promise, you’re just reading the wrong book. Before my junior year, I was convinced I hated reading. I couldn’t even tell you the last time I picked up, let alone finished a book. I was definitely one of the kids in class that used every possible resource to get a good summary of the book instead of actually reading it. I just needed enough information to pass the test. However, when I was given the opportunity to read a book that I chose instead of one assigned, I discovered that it was the tool I needed to unwind. The most helpful tip I’ve received is that if you try a book and don’t like it, it’s okay to switch books. Some may have skipped around this issue simply because some of the stories don’t spark an interest. It is perfectly normal to not match with certain topics. Finding the genre of book one likes is going to facilitate finding the specific books they will enjoy the most. You’ll know when you find the right book because you will recognize the story, not the assignment.
I have discovered that going to sit and read or catch up on homework is what I’ve been missing. Now I have more free time, less stress, and better grades. Last year around this time I was buried in work and thought that nothing could get me out of the hole I had fallen in. Looking back on it, if I would have found time during my school day to do work I would have had a lot more success. It is extremely difficult to complete a seven-hour school day just to go home and do more work. That is why I look forward to my library time because I know I am setting myself up for success.
It is so important to find something to help manage the day to day stress. This will look different for everyone, but for me it has been reading. Reading has proven to reduce stress, lower heart rate and ease muscle tension. For others, including myself, some other ways of finding peace may be listening to music, coloring, or watching a good show. So next time a book is assigned in class, maybe consider actually reading it instead of looking up chapter summaries. And next time the opportunity presents itself to pick out a good book purely for pleasure, give it a chance!