Beating School Stress With Positive Thinking

Let's face it, school is stressful. There is simply no way to study, prepare, and do whatever you need to do, and not feel it sometimes. Students of all ages, from toddlers in kindergarten to middle-aged people graduating with a master's degree, suffer from some stress.

We can't eliminate stress in school, but there is a lot we can do to minimize its impact on us. After all, no matter how stressed we are, we still have to do our best and do our job. The key to dealing with stress in school is understanding what causes it.

What stresses you out

Deadlines are a major stressor at school. It's all due at some point, which makes us wonder if we're going to do it. You have a test tomorrow, and wondering if you're ready for it keeps you from preparing for it!

Most of us are natural procrastinators. Leaving everything until the last minute puts tons of pressure on us. Poor time management and procrastination make this delay seem deadly! Poor time management is a symptom of a bigger problem: disorganization. If you are 100% organized in everything you do, your school life will be a snap. But, how many of us can say we are?

Finally, a major stressor for students is the simple fear of not getting there. With deadlines, tests, to-dos, our own messy disorganization, and a whole range of teacher expectations, we just worry about whether or not we'll be successful.

Look on the bright side

You cannot organize yourself completely and do it all on the day it is assigned. But, you can eliminate your fear of not making the grade. This is the number one stressor that affects the best academic performance and it can be overcome very simply.

The reason you're afraid of not passing is because that's what you tell yourself every day. It is a self-fulfilling prophecy. This means that if you chanted to yourself over and over again, "I will fail," then you will fail. There is no doubt about it. These self-defeating attitudes can be crippling for people.

What if, instead of saying "I will fail. I will fail", you say to yourself every day "I will succeed brilliantly!"?

This is called a "positive affirmation" and is a tool used by psychiatrists to treat major emotional disorders. However, anyone can do it. It clears the mind of negative thoughts and instills positive thoughts instead. This is your key to success in overcoming school stress.

Just identify your negative thoughts. What do you say to yourself every day that tears you apart? Now turn them in a positive direction. Pick a few key phrases and repeat them to yourself at different times of the day. Whenever you feel that negative, self-defeating thought sweeping over you, strike back with your positive affirmation.

It sounds too easy to work with, but it works wonderfully. Your self-defeating attitude can overcome you, so replace it with a positive one.