Back to school stress
It's safe to say that going to school can be nerve-wracking. Some of us might be stressed about increased workload, new teachers, friendship struggles and more responsibilities. It's also worth noting that the past few years have brought us new challenges due to the pandemic.
With all this in mind, let's slow down and show ourselves some compassion. It's so understandable that returning to school is daunting!
So, what can we do to make the transition make to the classroom easier?
One of the golden rules of adjusting to change is taking extra good care of ourselves. When there's so much going on in daily life, it helps to have a few things that'll stay the same as you adjust. Some ideas are:
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creating a relaxing bedtime routine and getting a good night's sleep
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packing your favourite snacks and meals to help your body get through the day
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drinking enough water
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planning relaxing or fun activities to look forward to throughout the week
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check in with your good friends, favourite teachers, and learning supports
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if study stress is impacting your mental health, consider reaching out to a supportive person in your life or a school counsellor
Change takes time, and it can be super uncomfortable. If you're finding it hard, you are not alone – we are here to support you.
What's your favourite way to unwind and relax after a big day at school? 👇🏽
Comments
I know I'm a bit late to the party, but I wanted to write something anyway. I think I'm feeling a strange mix of excitement and fear. This past semester has been really rough (as I am sure it has been for many). The lockdown which occurred in my area had a huge effect on my mental health.
It also made me realise the importance of socialising and having regular human contact. I always thought I didn't need anyone else and was fine by myself, but lockdown has shown me otherwise. I do need other people and that's nothing to be ashamed about. It's not a weakness but rather a chance to build a supportive social network.
Returning to uni/work, I look foward to socialising more and getting out and about.
Hi @Jardin, I am really sorry to hear that you struggled during lockdown. Understandably, it was a really difficult period and I feel like I speak for everyone when I say that I hope that is behind all of us now. It was a really taxxing and exhausting time. I totally agree with you about needing socialisation, it is easy to overlook these types of things when we are so used to it. I am really glad to hear that you are looking forward to getting out and about more. If you feel comfortable sharing, what is it that has you feeling a sense of fear?
@Taylor-RO I have issues with control, so I like being in my apartment where I can control almost everything: what I am doing, how neat it is, what and when I eat, etc. So some of my fear comes from having to leave this environment (where I feel in control) for the unpredictable and turbulent world outside.
My fear is also due to feeling like I will not be able to adjust to post-lockdown times. I believe I have lost some of my social skills and confidence. I find it overwhelming to go places by myself and struggle to make eye contact with people, even people just walking by. I have to try not to shrink away when people look at me or walk too close.
The more I go out, though, the easier it becomes. So ever since lockdown has ended I have been trying to go out and get used to being around other people again.
Hey @Jardin
What you say makes a ton of sense! It's almost like baby-stepping back into social interactions, after spending a loooooooooooooooooooooot of time adjusting to feeling comfortable (as best as we can) in isolation! I completely hear where you're coming from when you mention adjusting to post-lockdown. Something like social skills make sense in that we practice it as we continue to go out. Maybe I'd relate it to riding a bike but a bit more complex than that. You intrinsically know how to socialise, but perhaps the behaviours and skills need to be fine-tuned, with how you recognised: practice. Probably the most important thing is to check in with yourself during social interactions and recognise your boundaries. I know I find it hard to go to clumped-up social settings and it sets off some anxiety for me. It is just a slow process of getting re-attuned to the "post-lockdown times", in the same way we had to adjust to relative isolation. Do you find you're aware of your boundaries when it comes to socialising and re-adapting?
@Adam-RO I'm not really sure what my boundaries are. Perhaps interacting with too many people at once? I find it much easier and less stressful talking to a smaller group of people.
Heya @Jardin
Well, it sounds like you have some pretty good insight into your boundaries so far with what triggers you. This can be extremely helpful in a variety of ways. For instance, knowing when we are pushing ourselves too much and knowing when to take a step back and to be kind to ourselves. It’s really important to remember what your feeling is completely normal and you are taking all the correct steps right now to move past this difficult period. Please be kind to yourself. Thank you for sharing your experience with us we are always here to listen.
It is a strange feeling in vic that we have been opening up with such high case numbers. Other times, we have opened up to a world with zero COVID, so it is a different feeling now, knowing that anywhere I go carries the risk of exposure. I had a day last week where I went to work, then a psych appointment, then dinner with a friend, and a movie with a different friend. It felt like I was doing something wrong going to so many different places and 'mixing' so much. One of the buses I was on was absolutely packed like sardines too 😣
When I started in-person work after 1.5 years of off-and-on lockdowns and remote uni, it was so exhausting. I am only working part time at the moment to make it easier on myself. I have also had quite a few catch-ups with friends in the past few weeks and everyone seems to agree their social batteries deplete very quickly these days. On the other hand, I really feel like I have a reason to live again, now that I can enjoy things like friendly company, seeing different parts of the city, trying new restaurants, walking in the botanic gardens, etc 🙂 All the best to everyone with their transition back to opened-up life!!
@lemurien that makes sense that it would feel really different to open up with high case numbers - it's never really happened before, so it's a whole new experience.
I find it quite a strange feeling coming out of lockdown and suddenly being able to go anywhere and spending time with people when you haven't for a while - it's all a really big adjustment.
It's definitely understandable that people might feel like their social batteries deplete quickly - it sounds like you and your friends are really understanding of that for each other, and people aren't placing too many expectations.
So glad you're feeling positive about being able to get out and see people and sites, etc - Spring is such a nice time to be able to enjoy the gardens, etc. 💚
Are you getting some good weather?
@Philippa-RO actually the weather has been quite terrible recently, we've been having storms with hail! Wondering when the sun will decide to come out for VIC...
Yes I've mostly been meeting with people on the weekend for a couple hours or a single meal, that's pretty much all anyone can take 😅 But since I have work now, I still feel connected to people/the world without having to go to social events. Remote uni was so isolating, it's really nice now to leave home and work alongside friendly colleagues every day.
Heya @lemurien ,
I’m glad to hear you and your friends are comfortable in respecting your own boundaries when we go out. Even those smallest sessions of a meal or a few hours can be super draining. But on the other hand, it does definitely feel good to just connect (finally) with others not on a computer screen. It sounds like being back physically at work and uni has been a breath of fresh air.
Sometimes, I like to imagine that because Victoria has that “4-seasons-in-a-day” weather-system, that by having the poor days before summer, it’ll make it for it with amazing weather Dec-Feb. I’m sure it still feels like early days of returning back to ‘the new normal’, but it sounds like you’re slowly transitioning at a pace you’re comfortable with. Have you considered making any plans for holidaying/rest/relaxation over the summer?
@Adam-RO I certainly hope you're right! The few sunny days we had were so uplifting, I am missing them. It's a nice idea to make some summer plans but I'm finding that I can't! Maybe it's a side effect from not really being able to make long-term plans for the past 20ish months, because you never knew what kind of outbreak or lockdown might happen. But I'm also facing some changes in my life in the next little while so that also makes it easier to focus on the present. I'd love to hear everyone else's summer plans 🙂
hi @lemurien
I would say try to ease yourself into summer plans slowly, while making sure you don't make too many plans at once, especially if you find that it is overwhelming for you! I've been going to the movies (missed that so much!) and haning out with my friends. What have you been upto?
@goldwing03 I missed going to the movies so much as well! what have you been watching, was there one you really enjoyed?
I recently went to a big picnic. there were lots of people I didn't know and I almost didn't go but it turned out to be really great 🙂 It was really nice being around a bunch of young adults my age and having a laugh and hearing about where everyone was at. it had been so long since I had done something like that.
I just watched the Matrix Ressurections! It was an average movie the first couple are definitely better though.
It's really nice that you enjoyed the picnic, and yes it does feel nice to do social things outdoors with other people now that restrictions have eased 🙂
I've never seen any of the Matrix movies but I've been meaning to! obviously want to go back to the beginning before seeing the new one. they sound so intriguing.
