When I need to boost my mood or re-focus, I enjoy listening to music, especially when I am at home. Instead of getting distracted and doing something else, I listen to music and continue working on my assignment or project. Music helps me calm myself down, and/or change my mood. I can listen to upbeat music when I need more energy, or calmer music if I need to focus.
When I get stuck on a problem, I have strategies for what to do next. They include taking a short break to clear my mind, or breaking the problem down into smaller parts. When I get stuck on any sort of problem or difficult assignment, my first step is to take a deep breath and stay calm. If I get stressed out, it only makes it harder to think clearly and stay focused. When I do get stuck, I reread the question carefully, usually multiple times, making sure I understand what its actually asking.
Some of the things I do to stay mentally and physically healthy include getting enough sleep each night, getting exercise everyday and doing things that allow me to relax and recharge. One of the biggest things I try do is get enough sleep, because I’ve noticed that when I am tired I feel more overwhelmed, stressed and less motivated. Even though my day is busy from school and sports, I try to get as much sleep as possible. Also, I make time for physical movement or exercise. This includes walking to and from school, and doing sports in and out of school. Lastly, to help with my mental health, I do things that help me relax and recharge like listening to music, reading or hanging out with friends.
When I am feeling anxious about a test, I can calm myself by getting a good sleep the night before, preparing ahead of time instead of cramming all my studying into one night, and changing my mindset. When I study for longer, especially over a gradual amount of time, I feel more prepared and confident. I also find that I need to change my mindset, because whenever I think that I am not going to do good on a test, I stress myself out more and tend to forget or blank out during the actual test.