Gr. 10: Term 3: Module 1
Stress Reduction
As we explore our opportunities for life after high-school, we must also explore the concept of work-life balance in terms of defining the complexity of it, as well as examining the importance of it in the modern professional world. As we come across these pieces, the concept is a very personal one and will change depending on the person in question. So now is the time to consider your own work-life balance.
Predictably with such a controversial subject, understanding it in your own life is not easy. It requires some self-reflection and consideration of whether the reality of your work life may differ from how you’ve been perceiving it to be.
Work-life balance can also represent your school-life or personal-life balance. All of these factors can contribute to your personal stress.
As a way of opening up your own understanding of your work-life balance, ask yourself these questions:
What does a typical school and/or work day look like?
Being able to critically examine how you spend your day, both at school and outside of school will help make it clearer how that all-important balance can be achieved.
What does a typical day look like for you?
What is your schedule like?
What takes priority?
How often do you have to make changes on the go?
Despite the importance you put on work-life balance, most people who have worked even a single day of their life knows that sometimes your work will conflict with the rest of your life. That is just reality and we all need to come to terms with it. Work-life balance doesn’t mean that you are ridding yourself of that conflict, but rather that you are managing it more efficiently. So while you will occasionally miss dinner with the family because of a meeting or will have to put in some extra hours over the weekend, consider how often these conflicts occur. Is it an expected thing, or a rare occurrence? Do you find your work endlessly encroaching on your home life?
How often does school/work conflict with other aspects of your life?
Do you find yourself lacking in time?
Time management is something that a lot of people have trouble with and as a result, you can feel as though you are constantly being run off your feet. Some professionals always seem to be looking for some extra time in the day to deal with their busy schedule. However, is this just a typical day or is it an unreasonable workload? Whether it’s at school or with your life outside school, a lack of available time in the day could be an indication of a poor balance between your tasks at hand. Even if it’s just robbing you of time to unwind at the end of the day, that missing quality in your life is important and could make a significant impact on your overall health.
Sometimes the fact that you don’t have any available time in the day means that you are taking on far too much. You might step back and examine your schedule then think that there’s just no room among your many duties. However, it could be a simple matter of acknowledging that not everything is a priority. How often are you dealing with school tasks when you’re at home? Are you constantly checking in on Google Classroom over the weekend and trying to get a head start on the coming week’s work? Maybe other things are keeping your schedule busy once you leave school behind for the day, making it seem like you are always in work mode. Looking for ways to make your schedule more manageable may be the answer to finding that balance.
Is there anything unnecessarily taking up your time?
How realistic are your expectations?
Finally, you have to take a step back from it all and your dream concept of work-life balance and consider the reality of the situation. Some people have false perceptions of work-life balance that suggest work and the rest of your life should be given equal share. This is wrong for a number of reasons and, as previously stated, there is no one-size-fits-all equation to go by. So instead you must consider your situation, consider the balance you are striving for and ask yourself if it is realistic. Is there conflict in your life as a result of your schedule? Are you missing time in your day due to your routine? Or is finding harmony between the aspects of your life a relatively easy accomplishment?
What are some things that perhaps cause you stress at school?
(Consider brainstorming with a peer or a family member)
Upcoming tests - maybe you are worried about getting a good grade or making sure you don't procrastinate and give yourself time to study.
Too much homework - are you overwhelmed or frustrated by homework? This will make it harder to complete assignments, causing a stressful cycle where homework piles up.
A heavy workload - it could be advanced-level classes or the amount of studying required, but a heavy workload can be a major source of stress for students.
Too little “down time” - if your schedule is really busy, you may become overwhelmed because you are left with no free time to relax, causing you stress.
Poor sleep schedule - not getting enough sleep will make it difficult for you to concentrate and learn effectively, leading to feelings of stress.
Participating in class - for some students, the thought of having to speak in front of the class can be terrifying, which could create a stressful situation.
Lack of support - a lack of support from parents or teachers, even if it’s only perceived, may be creating stress in your life.
Transitioning to a new environment - have you made a major move lately, or a transition from one school to another? New classes, new teachers, and new routines can all be stressful for students.
Changes to routine - routines including dedicated homework time and a consistent sleep schedule will help guide you through the day. When you change your routine, you may find it difficult to manage your time, leading to more stress.
Lack of organization - if your organizational skills are not what they could be, you may experience more stress in school.
ASSIGNMENT
Stress is a hot topic for many students and it is important for you to know how stress can affect your mental and physical well being. How have you witnessed stress negatively impacting your life? Someone’s life? Maybe it was from committing to too many activities or needing to pass your next math test. Knowing what is causing your stress is an important step in helping you overcome it.
Something we all have in common is that we all have 24 hours a day, that's 168 hours per week that we need to split between school, extra-curricular commitments, our hobbies, down time we need with friends and family, and sleep! Most of us wonder where the time has gone on any given day, and some of us feel like we have too much on our plate.
In this visual assignment, you will use the "plate" to really think of an average day in your life (24 hours). By mapping out how you spend a typical day, you will come to find that there are many pockets that you could spend time more wisely.
Before completing the chart, think critically about how you spend your day. Make a list with times before completing your plate. What areas of your life demand more attention than others?
SUBMIT
Submit your completed assignment in your Advisory block Google Classroom
Due: Thursday, February 22