Preface
Have you ever prepared for a vacation and the first thing you did to prepare was create a list of things that you needed to get? What about a new recipe? Where you have made a trip to the grocery store to get the ingredients you need to perfect it! Well, what about school, where ever since you can remember, you may have made back-to-school trips to get ready with all the necessary scented makers, and binders? Do not get me wrong I love a good stationary haul!
Maintaining yourself and your school
As we grow older, education becomes more fundamental in potentially dictating our career interests. Although it is exciting to explore new topics in subjects we love, yes, I am referring to advanced functions, the pressure can be overwhelming. The pressure to maintain a good academic standing and be involved in extracurriculars, while balancing it with your life, friends, family, and most importantly, self. That pressure! So, what can we do to keep this feeling to a minimum?
- Mindset: Prepare yourself for the mental games. If you think of school as a mind games series, then you can train your brain to focus on the journey rather than the outcome. In other words, focus on learning new concepts, understand them, and engross yourself in the learning process. Put aside the grades, do not let them be your focal point. Your purpose as a student is to be a good learner and engage in creative and critical thinking. A quote I always like to remember is to ‘Practice like you’ve never won. Play like you’ve never lost.’ That way you are putting your best efforts to sharpen your skills and knowledge, wherein you build enough confidence to face any task you are given.
- Scheduling and time management: It is always a good idea to prepare in advance by setting your deadlines clearly on your digital calendar or physical agenda. This will allow you to get regular reminders and review any upcoming deadlines to manage your time accordingly. The Pomodoro technique is also a helpful tool that can motivate you by dividing your task into smaller, less overwhelming portions, and regularly giving you the necessary rest. Investing in such time management tools will ease your stress and grant you great results.
- Maintaining your mental health: By having the tools to handle a challenge when it arises, and the appropriate resources to receive the help when you need it, it can be easy to maintain your mental health. Remember, your achievements and your areas of improvement do not dictate your self-worth. Below you will find some helpful mental wellness resources to access whenever you need them, for you and your peers.
Mental Health Resources
You can also look for other resources in your community at 211.ca or by checking the website of your municipality or community center.
Kids Help Phone
We Matter: Toolkit for Indigenous Youth
Canadian Mental Health Association
Anxiety Canada
Mental Health Literacy
Children’s Mental Health Ontario
If a young person you know is in crisis/talks about suicide: Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868 First Nations and Inuit Hope for Wellness Help Line: 1-855-242-3310 talksuicide.ca
