Dear Sam,
I’m getting a lot of anxiety after I use social media. What should I do?
Dear Social Media Anxiety,
Unfortunately, what you just described is very common in both children and adults. This particular kind of stress manifests differently in different people, with symptoms that include interrupting conversations to check social media, an overwhelming need to share experiences on social media, or even experiencing withdrawal symptoms when unable to access social media. Obviously, this is a pretty serious issue, and not one that many people are aware of, even in themselves. Luckily for you though, there are a variety of ways to combat anxiety caused by social media. There are a few that I think are a little less obvious than other ones I’ve heard of before (“Use social media less,” for example. Seriously. Duh) and I hope that you will find them as helpful as I did.
Find a new routine.
Instead of sticking with the negative routine of constantly checking your social media, replace it with a more positive, productive one. When you find yourself reaching for your phone, switch gears. Find something that you enjoy that will kill your boredom just as fast as checking Instagram.
Reward Yourself!
To effectively resist social media, it needs to become a habit. However, this doesn’t have to be a chore. Set a goal for yourself, and when you achieve that goal, treat yourself. Do NOT treat yourself to social media! That is what we’re trying to avoid. Do something you wouldn’t normally do. Go out. See a movie. Get some sleep. Whatever you want, so long as you’re reinforcing your positive behavior.
Accountability
It’s easy to fall off track when you’re all by yourself. Enlist a friend or family member to help you along on the way to a stress-free existence. When you set a goal, let them know. They’ll yell at you, or at least cast looks of strong disapproval in your general direction - or at the very least send you passive-aggressive texts - if you slip up.
There are other ways to do this, of course, and if none of these options appeal to you, then feel free to look up ways to combat social stress on your own time. Plenty of sites have created lists of different strategies, including Forbes.com. There’s a whole wide world of information out there! Don’t not use it.
Sincerely,
Samantha Gran
Dear Sam,
How do I juggle work, homework, and my mental health?
Dear Overscheduled,
It’s easy to get stressed when you’ve got a lot on your plate. I myself struggle with having too much to do and too little time to do it. As a teen, I think it’s perhaps especially hard to navigate the new territory of a job with school going on at the same time. It’s a problem a lot of people have, and it’s not one that disappears upon reaching adulthood. It’s important to learn good time management skills that’ll keep you both stable and productive now. Here are a few I found:
Allow yourself time to rest.
Schedule in a period of time between important tasks, fifteen to thirty minutes, designated specifically for relaxation. It’ll give you time to breathe, and sort out whatever chaotic thoughts or feelings you’re having. This way, when you’re ready to begin again, you’ll be in a better, fresher state of mind that will allow you to be your most efficient.
Know your limits!
It’s far too easy to push yourself beyond what you’re actually capable of. When it comes to homework, learn what takes you the most time and make that a priority. When it comes to work, don’t take on shifts that you know that you won’t be able to make time for. In short, find a system that works for you that enables you maximize your potential without decimating your mental well-being.
Don’t multitask
Seriously. Don’t. It might seem like a good idea at the time, but it's physically impossible for human beings to focus on more than one thing at a time. Tempting? Definitely. Worth it? No, not really.
Communicate
Anybody can become overwhelmed; whether that be from school, work, or their private lives. When it happens to you, don’t shut down or fall in on yourself. Talk to the people around you. If you’ve missed homework, or are behind in a class, or anything of the sort, talk to your teacher. You’d be surprised by how understanding and accommodating they can be, so long as you’re actually giving them the information they need to help to you. This applies (roughly) to work as well. If you’re struggling under a workload you can’t manage, don’t just suffer in silence. Talk. Let people know. Usually, you can work something out.
Good time management sounds difficult, and to an extent, it is. It’s a habit you have to make, and while habits are difficult to start, once you get into the swing of things, it’s pretty smooth sailing from there.
Sincerely,
Samantha Gran
Dear Sam,
How do I go about looking into fafsa and grants as a junior?
While one isn’t typically able to apply for financial aid until their senior year, it’s good that you are investigating this early! Understanding the steps to take for financial aid and what kind of aid you are qualified for will make the process much less difficult to manage.
During junior year, you should begin to start looking at colleges you think you’d like to attend. Don’t rule out some based on their cost alone. More expensive colleges tend to offer greater financial aid, so in the end the cost should be about the same across the board.
Next, begin the discussion about finances. First, talk to your family. Figure out what the budget for college could be. Once you’ve done that, talk to your counselor about what kinds of scholarships you might qualify for, and what kind of aid you could request.
In general, it’s probably best if you try to avoid student loans as much as possible, so anything you can think of that would enable to spend less money that doesn’t involve potential debt is something you should look into.
I hope that was helpful! You can also look on the webpages for colleges, such as Truman, to see what they recommend, if you want to dig deeper.
Sincerely, Sam