Ask A Pro Live: Study Stress - September 2019
Whether you’re in your last year of school, trying to improve your grades or navigating life at University or TAFE - I think we can all agree that at times studying is stressful. You have to manage your time, understand the content, complete assignments and make deadlines. All whilst juggling family, friends and everything in between.
It’s enough to make your head implode!
In the lead up to this discussion we're also creating Study Stress profiles. If you'd like to join in you'll find the thread here. We also had a special discussion about this topic a couple of weeks ago which you can read back on and contribute to here.
Join us on Thursday the 26th of September from 7-9pm AEST to talk all things Study Stress!
So if there's anything you've ever wanted to know about how to manage study stress now is the time to ask! Watch this space, as soon we will be introducing our wonderful guests who will join us on the forums to talk all things managing study stress. I know many of you will have questions for our guests - please send them all through via the google form below.
@Esperanza67 @Bee @lokifish @mrmusic @ecla34 @N1ghtW1ng @roseisnotaplant @scared01 @redhead @LeoTheLion @MissX @FootyFan26 @DirtWitch @LadyMacbeth00 @Grake @elly123 @amywells21 @Mila28 @Quaintrelle @SpiderGirl18 @sibh @Amy9 @mspaceK @Sanguine @NBAM21 @Iridescence @Karinaskii @nxmita_pa @Alison5 @cerulean @SkyIsTheLimit @chocolateislife18 @DontWait @gezellig @seadreamer @dog_lover94 @Motty91 @GM24 @rose13 @ThinkerGirl28 @caseyleehs @neonsnow @TalaForest16 @Jakob @amypond @positivepenny @someone123 @Jrt14 @lr8991 @Mily @Dani @Hummingbird@Han1993 @marshmallows @Sunflower18 @RockPaperScissorsMelon @Stardust23 @Loudcloud @MitchellClifford @ami-lee @Gumi Gumi @Ally-Leesh-
@Jess1-RO I was obsessed with this karaoke app in my last two years of high school! It was a great stress reliever.
@Roxy879 love love love those suggestions!
Getting up and moving is my go to stress-relief as well! 😄 Just physically detaching myself from my desk and going for a walk helps me calm down and reapproach my work with a much clearer head! Sometimes it's like my brain is planning without me realising and I'm much more directed as well 
Another de-stress during studying is to move everything I don't need off my desk and onto the floor so I don't feel trapped, cluttered, or like i'm drowining in paper! Visually having less in front of me reduces how much it feels like I have to do straight away!
@WheresMySquishy naps are so so good!
@ecla34 I'm so glad that you love those suggestions! Literally having a dance and singing helps me so much, especially singing! I loooooveee to sing! I guess being able to physically and vocally let go of stress is the biggest help for me!
I completely agree @Roxy879! I love taking naps because they make me feel better, as well as doing little things to perk me up and relieve stress.
Sometimes, I like to go for a walk, spend time with my family or get out of the house for a bit before going back to studying if I'm feeling stressed out.
@WheresMySquishy I'm a big cat when it comes to naps. But I totally agree with you, a short sleep can wake you up and make you feel so fresh!
Walking is another great method! I walk around my house too! I also cuddle my dogs or go speak to my birds!
@scared01 getting smaller things out of the way is so satisfying and such a relief! 😄
It sounds like you have found some great ways that work for you @Roxy879!
What do you do to break down tasks @ecla34 @WheresMySquishy and @scared01?
I have recently discovered the magic of milanote and trello which has changed my life for breaking down tasks!
@Jess1-RO I have been using a calendar application on my phone to write down events and tasks, some apps that let me make to-dos and notes such as Google Keep and OneNote and a physical diary. Some apps and programs are really great in that they let you categorise things by the subject or project. 
@Roxy879 I agree. I feel as though I work better and stress less when I gradually work on assignments, rather than doing all of the work in one sitting.
I totally agree @WheresMySquishy Working with a large time frame is so great for yourself and your assessment! It gives your work clarity and you can always give it your best! Always want to get them 100%!
(even though I don't get them....🥺😂)
@Roxy879 I'm glad that leaving improved your wellbeing! We have to put our health and safety first before any position. 
@Roxy879 really agree with that advice! sometimes writing down a big to do list is helpful and sometimes it's like
way too overwhelming!
@WheresMySquishy working bit by bit really does make things feel less frantic!
To try combat study stress when i'm time poor i try to prioritise based on what's most urgent and what's most important, so that I know i have my bases covered. Trying to stay organised with my materials, notes, and due dates helps too 😄
@Roxy879 i'm so sorry to hear that were put in such an awful position 😞 So glad leaving has been so positive for you
@WheresMySquishy Thank you for that great response! I totally agree!
When was the first time you started to become aware of the your signs of study stress? Can you remember a time when you started to listen to your body and be aware that you may be experiencing stress?
@Jess1-RO The first time I experience stress was in highschool in Year 10, this was when the HSC was becoming more prevalent and important. I have never encounter study stress before and so for a very long time I never fully understood what my body was telling me. It wasn't until I completed the HSC and left highschool and entered Uni did I fully come to terms to what my body was trying to tell me. I started listening to my body last year and it has made me incredibly aware and has assist me in getting through my stressful workload!
@Roxy879 I so resonate with your last response
It sounds like study stress is something that started throughout highschool leading up to final exams, which I know so many of our readers and members are feeling at the moment, and was something you became more conscious of as you continued through to university.
Amazing to hear that learning the signs helped you manage study stress more and more in the last year! Sometimes it can take time and reflection to really hear our bodies!
So glad i could catch this chat! 😄 looks amazing so far!
@Roxy879 it's so cool hearing about your study experiences and getting your insights!
I agree that the body's always trying to tell you things, it's just hard to understand sometimes! Almost like we need an interpreter
hey guys super sorry im late, just got back from a 5 hour round trip 😬😬
@Bre-RO @Jess1-RO @WheresMySquishy @xXLexi_Lou122Xx
hello @Roxy879 its nice to meet you and thanks for sharing so much so far 🙂
You're a gem!"Learning to recognise the physical signs can be a great first step in managing anxiety and stress.
Other signs of stress could include thinking about studying excessively and not being able to do the things that you love, self-care or meeting your needs." - Could not agree more @WheresMySquishy! Not making time for my self care is a big sign for me that study is starting to eat into other parts of my world
So true @Roxy879, I would agree that the HSC is a big point of stress for so many people! All my love to those reading who are prepping for the HSC! We hope this chat will help you with you study too
