Two tests, a project, and homework from different classes can all be due in the same week for 11th-grade students. When this happens, it can feel hard to finish everything while still having time for friends, family, hobbies, and rest.

“School stress can affect students because they do not have time to do hobbies or spend time with family and friends, because they need to do homework or study for exams,” said Sofia Atheortua, an 11th-grade student at TCS. For Sofía, a stressful week is when she has several tests, exams, and homework to do at the same time. Instead of using her free time to relax or be with her family and friends, she has to spend it studying or finishing schoolwork.

To keep up with everything, Sofía starts by organizing what she has to do. “Sometimes I make to-do lists or do my priorities first, and then I do the other tests and exams,” she said. She uses a list to see all of her responsibilities and chooses the most important ones first. After finishing those, she moves on to the other tests, exams, or homework.

Having time during the school day can also make a difference. “I think X-Block is a really good way to help students during a stressful week, because we have a lot of work and a lot of exams in the same week,” Atehortua said. For students who need to study, finish homework, or speak with a teacher, X-Block can be useful during a busy week.

Sofía’s strategies can help students handle busy weeks, but Ana Garcia, a TCS counselor, explained that the amount of stress also matters. “A low level of stress can be positive because it motivates people to take action, achieve their goals, and do their best. However, a high level of stress can stop them from acting and cause frustration, anxiety, irritability, feeling overwhelmed, extreme tiredness, and less motivation to learn,” Ana wrote.

For Ana, the important part is not waiting until everything feels impossible. “The key is to have a planning and organization system so students do not reach the point of having many things at the same time,” she wrote. This could mean looking at deadlines ahead of time, using class time well, and not leaving all the work for the last minute.

More than just finishing every assignment, Ana believes students need to notice when school stress is starting to affect their health or motivation. Planning, using support such as X-Block, and asking for help early can make a busy week feel more manageable. “It is important to notice warning signs such as fatigue, unsatisfactory results, and effects on physical or emotional health to prevent reaching the point of ‘I cannot handle the whole workload anymore,’” Garcia wrote.