Under Pressure: The Reality of Academic Stress and What We Can Do to Help
Have you ever felt burdened by the pressure of achieving well at school?
Kayla O’Callaghan
If the answer to that question is yes, you’re not alone. In New Zealand and around the world, a significant number of high school students struggle with academic pressure and the high expectations placed upon them by school, family, society, and themselves.
Academic pressure can have many causes, stemming from the high demands of school courses, subjects, university entrance, and extracurriculars. With growing numbers of teenagers experiencing academic pressure, and not much being done to counter this problem, it is crucial that we raise awareness.
A 2023 survey at Hornby High School revealed that 70% of students felt like they were under significant pressure, derived from academic performance at school and expectations from family. About 75% of respondents agreed that this pressure had a huge impact on their mental health.
In 2020, the New Zealand Mental Health Foundation reported that 11% of people between 15 and 24 experienced high levels of phycological distress and anxiety. In 2022, this number increased to 23%, revealing that about one in every four young people today is significantly affected by mental health struggles.
Academic pressure can cause students to spend overwhelming amounts of time on schoolwork and obsess over grades. As a result, basic aspects of a balanced and healthy lifestyle are forgotten, sacrificing sleep schedules, exercise, and social wellbeing.
Overreliance on AI, plagiarism, and other cheating methods can quickly become a problem when students are trying to lessen and cope with a large workload. Burnout is an even greater issue for people with diverse learning needs and students in lower decile schools, who may struggle to access the support they need. This barrier creates extra complications and even more pressure.
How do I Deal with Academic Pressure?
We need schools, teachers, parents, and students to be aware of this problem and work on creating healthier academic environments and mindsets to support student wellbeing and alleviate excess pressure. But how can we reduce the pressure of a heavy workload and the expectations to do well in our own lives?
Here are some practical tips to help:
Set realistic goals: It is important to set realistic goals and expectations for yourself that motivate you to get work done to a high standard, but don’t burden you with too much.
A useful acronym to remember when setting goals is SMART – a reminder to set goals that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound.
Having good time management skills is also essential for when there’s a lot to do and not a not a lot of time. Make sure to prioritize what needs to be done first, as well as planning ahead with a study timetable or something similar. For this to be effective, it is important to take frequent breaks and work in a space free from distraction.
Stay organized, don’t spend all your time on one subject, and focus on finding effective study methods that work for you. Using flashcards, recalling information, doing practice tests, and using methods like the Pomodoro and Feynman techniques can go a long way.
While academics are important, It is crucial to keep a balanced and healthy lifestyle, even when things get busy and stressful. Always give yourself time to relax and reset. Ensure you are getting 8 hours of sleep a night, exercising and spending time outdoors, eating healthily, devoting time to friends and family and finding hobbies you enjoy.
Avoid comparison - comparing yourself and your grades to others’ will leave you feeling bad and questioning your worth. Always keep in mind that everyone’s progress and successes look different. Academic achievement does not define your potential.
Change your mindset. If perfectionism, high expectations for yourself, and overreliance on grades are holding you back and causing extra pressure, it might be good to reevaluate your mindset.
It is important to remember that academic achievement is not everything, and it is good to focus more on enjoying your learning and growing as a person. That grade doesn’t matter nearly as much as you think it does, nor does it define how successful you will be.
Spend time doing activities you enjoy and things that can lower stress levels, such as listening to music, spending time outdoors, or journalling. If the workload, stress, or anxiety becomes too much, it is always a good idea to talk to a family member, teacher, or counsellor or seek support in any way you can.
Bibliography
https://graduatecoach.co.uk/blog/academic-pressure/
https://mentalhealth.org.nz/statistics-on-schools-and-youth-mental-health