5 min
How not to stress about going back to school: our advice
The start of the school year is often synonymous with excitement , new encounters, personal challenges or even learning opportunities . However, for many of us, it can also be a source of stress and anxiety. 🩺
To avoid this, here are some tips to help you not stress about the start of the school year and take full advantage of this period of renewal!
I. First of all, understand the stress of going back to school
Why might going back to school cause you stress?
Back to school represents a change in your routine. Indeed, the latter was turned upside down by the arrival of the holidays which disrupted the sleep and work rhythm that you had established.
Getting back into a rhythm is therefore not an easy task, especially depending on the vacation time you have taken. It's like recovering from a “ jet lag ” of freedom and dreams, in short, a sort of vacation jet lag ! 🏖
The start of the school year also brings organizational and sometimes professional challenges, which are important to us and for which we can put pressure on ourselves. It is also a time of transition with a new rhythm that is sometimes unknown and can generate stress.
1. A change in pace of life
The transition from a relaxed atmosphere to more structured schedules can be difficult (the famous “vacation jet lag”).
2. Fear of the unknown
Back to school is also something new .
As exciting as it is, fear of the unknown is one of the primary causes of stress. And this, at any age:
👶 For children : a new school, new teachers, classmates that we don't yet know... this can be enough to make them see the start of the school year as the bane of all.
👨🎓 For slightly older students : this can also be new accommodation in a city far from the family home.
🧑💼 And finally, in the professional environment : it can be a new mission, a new job, or even the fear of not being up to the tasks accumulated and left pending during the holidays.
But then, what are the effects of stress on our return to school?
The negative effects of stress are unfortunately multiple and impact our body as well as our emotions. In short, they affect the way we experience our return to school if we don't stop them first. More precisely :
1. Physical reactions to stress
During a moment of stress, the body goes into “alarm” mode. The body prepares to fight or flee . It then releases hormones like cortisol and adrenaline .
This manifests itself as:
➡️ an acceleration in heart rate;
➡️ faster breathing;
➡️ muscle tension.
If this stress reaction is very intense, or if it lasts, it can go so far as to cause headaches and sleep problems. 💤 So, when negative stress manifests itself for several days, it unfortunately leads to persistent fatigue and a feeling of oppression.
2. The emotional impact
The range of possible feelings linked to back-to-school stress is wide:
➡️ Anxiety is the most common, characterized by constant worry and negative thoughts about upcoming challenges.
➡️ Nervousness may also be present, accompanied by a feeling of apprehension.
➡️ Nostalgia, especially for those who miss the end of the holidays.
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➡️ But also, irritability, frustration, anger, especially if expectations are high.
The combination of these emotions makes going back to school an emotionally taxing cocktail.
At this point, we say to ourselves that it is urgent to find how not to stress about the start of the school year ! 🚨
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II. So, how can you manage so as not to stress at the start of the school year?
Once stress is there, it is often difficult to make it go away. To avoid the manifestations of negative stress, you must learn to manage it. Succeed in transforming these negative feelings into positive stress.
We also have a specific article on positive and negative stress .
Now, here we go for our 6 tips to help you get back to school. 👇
Get organized for a peaceful return to school
Plan everything that can be prepared in advance. Avoid buying school supplies at the last minute. ⏰
Plan, during the last week of vacation, time slots to organize the return to school:
☑️ Prepare the bag (if it's back to school) for D-Day several days before.
☑️ Choose your outfit the day before.
☑️ Develop a balanced breakfast for the morning of back to school.
☑️ Schedule your alarm on time, or even a little early to have enough time to get ready.
To prepare not only for the big day, but also for the entire back-to-school period , here are some other tips:
1. Establish a wellness routine
Starting with physical activity! Sport is a powerful antidote to deal with stress. ⚽️ Integrate physical activities into your schedule, such as brisk walking, yoga or gym.
Physical exercise releases endorphins, improves your mood and your ability to manage stress. The ideal is to plan a time in your schedule reserved for sports practice. Choose an activity that you like !
If you are not sporty, soothe your mind with relaxing activities. Practice deep breathing, meditation, or reading. These breaks, even if short, will remind you of vacation time and will help you stay calm and focused. 🧘♀️
2. Set realistic expectations
Learn to say no when necessary to avoid adding to your mental load. Realistic goals allow you to better manage your responsibilities.
Cultivate flexibility. Life is unpredictable, and flexibility is key to adapting to changes. Be open to adjusting your plans based on circumstances, which will reduce your stress levels when things don't go quite as planned.
Additionally, if you see the start of the school year as a time for new (good) resolutions, don't set the bar too high to avoid getting discouraged too quickly. Go step by step! ✅
3. Strengthen social support
Share your concerns with your loved ones. Receiving support from your friends will help you feel less alone in the stress of going back to school.
Indeed, the simple act of discussing what is stressing you out can bring you relief and even tips for approaching this period more calmly. And we take that, right? 🙂
You are not alone in heading back to school! Few are the lucky ones for whom vacations are unlimited. So take heart, there are several of us in the same boat. Yes yes, even this workaholic colleague!
4. Prepare for a peaceful return to school
Instead of focusing on the stressful aspects, view the start of the school year as a new opportunity. Visualize your future successes and focus on the successes that lie ahead.
Practice visualization: Take a few minutes each day to try positive visualization. Imagine yourself succeeding in your daily tasks, feeling calm and confident. This technique reinforces a positive mental attitude. 😃
5. Take a course of anti-stress food supplements
A course of food supplements is additional support to manage the stress of going back to school!
Here is our selection for back to school 😎:
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👉 Vitamin C: star of anti-stress vitamins
Because it is involved in many biological functions, Vitamin C works for our well-being.
👉 Organic Ashwagandha
Considered an adaptogenic plant, Ashwagandha helps us moderate our reactions to stress. It is therefore a great ally to avoid stress at the start of the school year.
👉 Magnesium Bisglycinate
A lack ofmagnesium induces fatigue, stress or restless sleep: everything we want to avoid for the start of the school year.
👉 Our Sleep Formula
To arrive fresh and rested at the start of the school year, the Sleep Formula will help you benefit from restful sleep.
6. Plan short weekends
In order not to feel like the next vacation is too far away, consider the possibility of organizing days or weekends just for you, with your partner or with your family! 🛫
By creating these small deadlines of pleasant moments to anticipate, you will reduce the feeling of a vacation that is too far away.
III. To conclude
Back to school is an exciting time if you adopt the right strategies to manage your stress . By organizing yourself and taking care of your emotional well-being, you will succeed in taking this new step with serenity. Remember that each school year is the start of new experiences ! 💫
In summary, to counter the back-to-school blues, physical activity is an invaluable ally, it is a way to preserve your mental and emotional health. By investing time in effective organization, helping yourself with food supplements and planning time for yourself or future weekends, it becomes possible to best manage the stress inherent to this period and approach the start of the school year. with more serenity and confidence.
Lucas PINOS
Co-founder of NOVOMA
Passionate and expert in micro-nutrition, Lucas founded Novoma in 2012. It is with conviction that he develops food supplements with effective, carefully chosen and 100% clean active ingredients, to best meet the body's needs.