The dreaded buzzing of the school alarm clock blaring in your ears. You think about going back to sleep because you are not mentally prepared for the day ahead of you. You have two exams, two sports practices, a grandmother to take care of and homework piled to your ceiling, as well as a job to go to after. How will you ever do it? Sometimes it seems as if giving up is the best, and only option.

As school begins to spring into action with a full workload, students begin to feel exhausted. They do schoolwork all day just so they can go home and finish hours more of what they were doing in class. Schoolwork can be extremely tough for students who have extracurricular activities and possibly a family to take care of. They feel like all they want to do is nap and waste the day sleeping, as they procrastinate on their up-and-coming deadlines.

Students often prioritize school over their own mental health. It can be hard for students to give themselves time for a routine at night and to go to bed early enough for them to feel refreshed. Mental health takes a drastic decline, as the pressure of academic validation affects students in ways most would not even think about. Inconsistent sleeping, always being on an electronic device and doing pointless tasks are all ways students cope with the amount of mental stress they have put on them by their schoolwork. 

Extracurriculars do not help with this stress either. Activities outside of school such as sports, clubs, student jobs and other non-school affiliated activities are designed to give kids the much-needed break to take their minds off school for just a couple of hours. However, this proves to be more detrimental when it comes to schooling. The hours that students spend doing extracurricular activities and taking care of family are hours they can’t use to finish their homework or study that night, leaving them in the dust and forcing them to forfeit sleep and possibly even a nightly routine. When the lack of sleep occurs, sometimes students take days off of school for their mental health, but ultimately this puts them behind. The work that is due has to get done, and on top of that, they have makeup work to complete as well. 

Classes should be structured in a way that students can learn, but also in a way that students can take the time to complete work so there is less to do at home. Taking a majority of a class period to teach, while also allowing students time to practice the skills they learn in class may be a better alternative. Not only this, but it helps the students to learn and apply directly after being taught a lesson, along with the help of the teacher in the classroom. Students should also apply time management skills. While it can be difficult to look at the big picture of a school day or school week, students should break it down into smaller pieces. Using tools like a planner, Google slides as check-off lists, sticky notes, talking to teachers and taking advantage of study halls or free time are just some options. 

Until then, it seems as if students must devote their well-being to the everlasting studies and schooling where they feel pressured to succeed. Allowing students to take breaks, and prioritizing mental health during the school day can be extremely important. While some students may be able to stay home and take a mental health day, some parents do not allow that or it is just not an option. Nevertheless, students need to remember that taking care of themselves is the most important thing and should come before all else.