How much has the stress level risen from M3 to your grade?
It will increase a bit, but nothing drastic. As you get older, your marks become more important in terms of post-secondary education so there is often some stress related to that. In my experience, the course content gets harder but the workload does not, except for the sciences which are more rigorous overall. As well, in your M4-S6 years there are a lot more opportunities to take on leadership roles in extracurriculars, e.g. club execs, house positions, etc. Those will also take up some of your time and may contribute to stress levels. So far, S5 has been relatively relaxed for me (in fact far less stressful than M3), which might be because of my mindset but I think overall spares serve really well to decrease stress and there’s a greater degree of liberty because teachers trust you more and will understand if you’re overworked.
What kind of music do you listen to to de-stress?
This answer is going to be long because there is just so much good music, so bear with me! First off, my friend Bella made a really great chill indie playlist for you guys :) Here it is:
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I really like this playlist for studying (pardon the morbid name).
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If you're looking for something more upbeat, Ashley and Zoe suggest these two (first is indie/alternative & the second is rock/punk):
Personally my favourite genre to listen to is electronic (melodic dubstep, indie electronic, etc.) Downtempo Instrumentals on Songza is great for relaxing. I also like these two:
For those of you who are into classical, Natasha recommends:
D.Shostakovich. Symphony № 5. Movement 4
Alexander Glazunov - Violin Concerto in A minor, Op. 82
Elgar - Nimrod (from "Enigma Variations")
How do you cope with school-related stress?
Literally this gif:
![](https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-dJ7ehggS1FA/VGjlL3ubByI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/d4xCaf9CXhY/w500-h250-no/tumblr_mgj44mNyST1s199fdo1_500.gif)
(Jokes we'll be adding more to this response later. If you want tips on how to cope with anxiety check out the Mental Health section.)
How do you minimize stress during summatives?
Prioritize: Make a list of everything you need to complete, rank them in order of urgency/importance, and track your daily progress.
Organize: Gather all of the sheets, resources, and materials you'll need to work.
Incentivize: Take breaks and give yourself incentives to continue working.
Energize: Remember to stay healthy and to always prioritize your mental and physical well being over your schoolwork.
Organize: Gather all of the sheets, resources, and materials you'll need to work.
Incentivize: Take breaks and give yourself incentives to continue working.
Energize: Remember to stay healthy and to always prioritize your mental and physical well being over your schoolwork.
What do I do if I procrastinate and it stresses me out?
This article says it all!
Does having spares decrease your stress? Or do the harder courses cancel it out?
Spares give you a great opportunity to take some time to relax and counter-balance a stressful day of classes, thought sometimes you might need to work right through your spare to finish a project or study for a test. Many students use their spares to work on extra-curricular commitments, which definitely increase in number in higher grades, but I don't think the course load gets any heavier for the most part. When I asked my friends, all of them agree that spares are awesome and overall decrease your stress significantly, so that's definitely something to look forward to :)
Does playing games (e.g. League) help to relieve stress?
Video games can be a great way to unwind and de-stress when played in moderation. If you manage your time well a gaming break can help you relax and be more productive as you work. However, if you spend too much time playing video games you might find that you have trouble focusing or don’t have enough time to finish all of your work which can lead to even more stress.