Don’t Worry, Be Happy :-)

Calm down! Whew, let’s see. So I didn’t have time to study the area of a triangle last night. How much of the test could be on that topic? It’s okay. Don’t think about that English grade of 64 right now. You need to concentrate. After school I have to work until 8 p.m. When will I do my science homework? Don’t think about that now! Concentrate! 2x+y… Concentrate on math…

Have you ever had a day when everything seems to happen at once? Almost all people experienced stress during their high school career. I know I have. It can be really hard to do the things you enjoy, try to earn money to do them and do well in school.

Besides working for good grades, high school is “supposed” to be a time to have fun. You go to the football game Friday night and dance until you can’t dance anymore Saturday night. Unfortunately, there is a lot more to high school than proms and football games. In order to plan for the future and look at good colleges, teens need to have an active high school career.

The problem is, too many teenagers think, if I do this, then this college will accept me. These students try to juggle too many different community and school activities. In the long run their grades are not as good as they could be because they do not have time to study. If the goal is to get into a good college, wouldn’t it be in your best interest to work toward good grades?

My advice to all who feel they are stressed out is to r-e-l-a-x. Take a break. It’s great to play a sport and shows a lot of commitment, but don’t let your time be consumed by too many things. Save some for yourself. Always try to find a time when you can do something that makes you happy, whether it is reading, watching TV or just thinking.

I find that when I have too much work or too much to think about, the best thing to do is take a break and talk to someone. It is really great to talk to my mom, my sister or friends about things other than work. If you can’t talk to someone, writing in a journal is a great substitute. It may be hard to believe, but it can be really helpful to complain on paper. By writing down my worries, I actually relieve some stress.

I am sure everyone experiences relaxation in his or her own individual way. It is exciting to discover and explore the potential of this exercise. The fundamental effects, however, are pretty much the same for all – body and mind find their own natural balance. When I have been very busy going full speed ahead all day and then find it difficult to unwind in the evening, watching my favorite soaps on TV calms me. If I am tired and uninspired and cannot get started on anything, then playing arcade games give me renewed energy.

When something is worrying us, we may feel as if we are enclosed in a bubble. When the problem has been resolved, or the cause of the anxiety has been removed, then everything feels different. Suddenly we can make contact with the people around us again and appreciate the small daily events. Relaxation can remove these bubbles – regardless of whether they arise from anxiety, ideals or self-indulgence – and prevent new ones forming.

Did you know that relaxation slows one’s metabolism, breathing rate, heart rate, and lowers blood pressure. The relaxation response also causes the release of several naturally occurring compounds within the body that enhance mood, stimulate immune cells and their function, and have an antibacterial effect. It also alleviates many stress-related medical disorders. Relaxation is generally used in combination with other wellness interventions such as diet, exercise, and stress management. It also has become part of mainstream medicine.

Now more than ever, the rigor of everyday life requires more than just rest – it requires purposeful relaxation that relieves tension, balances emotions, and eliminates anxiety and fear.

Don’t worry if life hands you too many things at once. You will have the rest of your life to worry. As a person, one privilege we have is to have fun! It’s great to have fun, but when too many activities turn into stress: Don’t worry, be happy, take a break and RELAX.

The views expressed are strictly that of the author. Fajardo is the editor of the Saipan Tribune.