Four Ways to Practice Self-Care During the Stress of the End of the School Year

By Isabella Brosnan '28

The end of the school year is fast approaching, and while the arrival of summer is exciting, the last stretch of the year can be stressful for many students. Between final exams, projects, papers, sports, social activities, part-time jobs, making plans for the summer, and family obligations, the many responsibilities of a high school student can be overbearing and cause anxiety. 

Self-care is crucial for both your emotional and physical health, and taking breaks frequently can help you avoid burnout. Next time you feel stressed out, try one of these four methods to take care of your well-being. 

1. Practice mindfulness. 

This may seem like it is mentioned a lot, but taking time to really be present in the moment can offer many benefits such as relaxation, gratitude, stress reduction, and

improved happiness. Instead of worrying endlessly about the future, focus on the now. Take deep, slow breaths and tap into your senses. What can you smell, hear, or feel? Pay close attention to your breath, and try to release tension in your neck, head, shoulders, and other areas affected by stress. Thoughts will come, but let them pass like clouds in a blue sky. Being mindful can be tricky at first, but it gets easier with practice.  If you are religious, taking time to quietly pray is also part of mindfulness. This practice eases worries, and the nice thing is you can be mindful in any time or place, such as your commute, at lunch, or in your room.

2. Check in with your physical health. 

While we all know that it’s important to eat healthy, get enough sleep, exercise, and drink enough water, sometimes in the whirlwind that is the end of the year, we neglect our physical health and this harms our mental well-being. Water may help when stressed because it flushes out toxins and can prevent headaches, and eating a nourishing meal offers many benefits, such as giving us “healthy energy.” Exercising releases the “happy chemicals” of endorphins, which can boost our mood significantly, especially after sitting still for an extended period. And getting adequate sleep is important to be the best you can each day. Aim to get 8-10 hours each night, giving your brain time to recharge. Try your best to resist late-night study sessions, instead studying a little bit every day leading up to the exam. Also, making a plan for completing assignments can help with your sleep schedule. 

3. Try journaling. 

Journaling isn’t for everyone, but it can definitely help calm an overthinking mind when thoughts are put on paper. It can give you peace of mind before bed, so these worries

don’t make it hard to sleep. Gratitude journaling is also helpful, because it can really improve your emotional health to be thankful for everything you have, the people you love, and all that you’ve accomplished across the year. The little things count as much as (maybe even more than) the big things. For example, the smoothie you drank today, the compliment someone gave you, the sunny weather, a poem you read, when you hugged your friend, etc. There are many, many things to be grateful for! Doing something kind for someone else (like holding a door open, smiling at someone, or volunteering) can also make you feel better when you brighten up someone’s day. 

4. Take time to relax and do what you love. 

Finally, taking time in the day, whether it’s 20 minutes or 2 hours, to do what you love is such an important self-care method. Take a warm bath, bake something, go for a run, sing karaoke, take photos of nature, paint, swim laps, watch movies with popcorn, do a face mask, eat frozen yogurt, crochet, call a friend, buy yourself flowers, play with your pet, read… As long as it’s something you love, then do it! Just don’t spend too much time on social media, as that could negatively affect your emotions. Taking time for your passion is not “wasting time” because you’re taking time to refresh, and hitting “pause” in the rush of the day can be so good for your mental health. 

Self-love is vital, especially with all that we have to do as the school year wraps up. Which method works best for you?

All Photos Courtesy of hopehealthco.org and wanderlustcalls.com

Sources: healthline.com and verywellmind.com

Edited by Catherine Polatidis '26 and Ms. Brilliant

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