Ƨтяɛƨƨ-Ħσω Ƭσ Ѳʌɛяcσмɛ Ƭнιƨ Иιɢнтмαяɛ?

My first drawing using paint. Hmm... not my first actually, but I have kinda lost touch. Sorry for the bad drawing... :p

In this era of globalization, students are constantly haunted by stress, which results in bad temper, poor academic performance and poor interpersonal communication. Anyway, we are discussing the methods to overcome stress here. Students need to overcome stress for a better general well-being, better school performance and a happier life. The problem is: What causes stress and are there ways to overcome them?

First and foremost, many students cited long hours spent in school, compulsory school co-curricular activities and an excess of assignments as the main causes of stress. One of the reasons which actually supports this point is that most of the assignments and homework are to be completed in a day, when the after-school co-curricular activities constantly fill their timetables. Besides, the long hours spent in school leave them dead-beat. In fact, the extended period in school means less time for revision and reinforcement activities. To overcome this factor, students should finish their homework in school as soon as possible, so that they will feel less plagued by the mountains of homework after school.

Frequent examinations contribute to pre-examination stress among many students as well, especially when the education system in Malaysia is exam-oriented. This is normal for those who are in the examination classes, especially those who are in the elite classes. Moreover, in this competitive age, many parents have high expectations of their children and most students attend tuition classes in their quest to do well, if not better than their rivals and this, results in stress. Worse of all, some of them may even suffer from depression if they are unable to excel in their studies!

Apart from that, students may even lack sleep due to the factors above, especially if they cannot manage their time in a wise manner. This can trigger physical and mental illnesses among the students, which makes the process of studying and absorbing knowledge inefficient. Consequently, they score dismally and are less active in extra-curricular activities.

This is indeed a vicious cycle! Thus, we need to tackle these problems immediately for a better school life. The main key to overcome stress is to have a posi9tive outlook and a suitable goal. We must always remember that “if you fail to plan, you plan to fail”. We should aim for the better and visualize our goals so that we are motivated to strive for excellence. However, having goals that are too high can backfire. It is always better to accomplish a small goal than to feel disappointed after failing to achieve a goal which is too ambitious. Always remember to “take baby steps”.

Furthermore, we must have proper time management. The first step in time management is to plan a suitable timetable, which enables us to divide time equally for studies and play. After all, “all work and no play make Jack a dull boy”. In order to excel academically, we have to be wise on the time spent on recreational activities, especially when it comes to movies, shopping or the “glaring box”. Consistent studying is vital so that we can remember facts easily. However, we should refrain from burning the midnight oil as this act hampers effective absorption of facts.

Besides, exercise is another ideal way to de-stress because it can stimulate the release of endorphins from the brain, leaving us feeling refreshed and relaxed. Among the exercises which are good for students are yoga, jogging, aerobics, swimming and badminton. Doing housework and gardening are perfect workouts as well. We can release our stress and get fit, as the saying goes, “killing two birds in one stone”.

All in all, stress among students should be solved in a serious and quick manner. As modern students, we may be constantly overwhelmed by the high expectations from the adults, yet with self-confidence and time-management, stress can be overcome. Let us not be pessimistic and overpowered by stress, but to work confidently and tenaciously for a brighter tomorrow!