Take a Break

If you're in any type of schooling, you're probably a little bit stressed, unless you're 11 or under. Do me a favour and enjoy it! And sometimes things can pile on top of you, and it starts to bend you, like a pencil, and that pencil can snap.

That happened to me last night

With a chemistry presentation to complete for Friday, as well as a Geography test to revise for, an RE mock exam in two weeks, a Spanish controlled assessment in three, I snapped. Whilst talking to Maya (complaining really), I broke. There were tears, despair, and the inherent need for my mum. I didn't want to hide from her, not when I was struggling.

She ended up telling me that I would shower, then have another ten minutes to do some more chemistry, and geography, if I didn't have it in my head already, I'd have to make do. The test was just an end-of-unit, which just gives a grade, but doesn't impact my GCSE. Then I'd go to sleep, because my parents are sure that I can't run on 6 hours of sleep forever, which I suppose I can't, but it's just a manageable time for me, just like 6:30 is for waking up, and 7:00 is for making my tea on a night.

I couldn't tell you why it took me two hours to do that one chemistry presentation (this did include a 20 minute fanfiction break, but whatever). I ended up finishing it in the 10 minute time limit I gave myself. 7 slides of random chemical stuff that barely made sense to me, that took two hours. The reaason I've been able to figure out is that, I got a D last term, and I don't want to keep that. No way. Unfortunately, I'm not my sister, who did an A Level in chemistry, and even went on to university to study it. Chemistry is probably my worst science, followed by physics, then biology is definitely my favourite. Covalent bonds don't interest me; clinical trials and heart dissection does.

But I wasn't writing this to talk about my personal struggles, I want to help you if you're feeling stressed. We all have different methods for relieving ourselves of stress, but here are a few that help me out when I'm feeling overwhelmed.

1. Take a step back

When you're stressed, it's a counterproductive to be near the thing that's causing you grief. Take a walk, go make a drink, or just close the window on your computer and go do something else.

2. Take a shower

Clear your mind, take the time to get yourself clean and just away from whatever's stressing you out.

3. Read a book (or do whatever relaxes you)

Relieving your own stress lies in relaxing yourself, for me at least. Get out a book, listen to some music, whatever makes you happy, do it.

4.Punch a pillow

I would say 'punch something', but I don't know how literally people will take that, and I don't really want to pay damages if someone punches through a wall or something, so punch a pillow; think of it as one way to plump it :)

5.Talk to someone

Whether it's your mum downstairs, your friend you're in a chat with, or just a silly little blog (ayyy), get your feelings out. For some reason, that helps me get over it quicker.

6. Sleep on it

As I said, my mum's initial suggestion was, after I'd had my shower and done the ten minutes of chemistry, was to go to bed, setting an earlier alarm so I could get my morning routine out of the way and use the extra time to finish my work. Luckily, I finished it before I went to bed, so I got the extra time to do some revision for Geography.

7. Let it out

If you feel like crying, then cry. Don't be ashamed of your tears. Tears actually contain antibodies that fight pathogens (thank you biology). So cry, it's human. Take hours if that's what you need;
if the end product is the same, who cares about the middle? You don't have to be strong all the time, which is something I need to remind myself. I'll be leaving reminders everywhere for myself that I'm not indestructible, and I don't need to pretend I am.

So, that was my Thursday night. Hopefully this can be motivation to become a more put-together, organised person (says the person who hasn't done any homework when she has two pieces due on Monday)
Have a nice weekend, Eve <3
PS. I forgot, but I would like to give a shoutout to the beautiful Maya, for being supportive when I was feeling rough, making sure I was okay in the morning, and being a brilliant friend in general. Love oo, Maya x