SURVIVING THE IB - A GUIDE TO WELLNESS

02/18/2022

Since this week is wellness week, I thought this would be a good time to take the opportunity to share some of my experiences with the Diploma Program so far and some helpful tips for surviving the IB with both current and future Grade 11 and 12 students.

For students around the world, the rigorous demands of the IB creates a significant amount of stress and at times anxiety in the lives of participants. The heavy workload, quick pace of the curriculum and critical exams can make school feel overwhelming, which could take a toll on your overall mental health and wellbeing.

Personally, there have been many stressful moments for me. This is my first year in the diploma program (grade 11) and I’ve noticed a significant change from grades 9 and 10. The amount of assignments and difficulty level of classes has increased, along with the extra pressures of added requirements (extended essay, CAS, lang/lit HL essay, etc). It can be difficult to balance all of these elements with extracurricular activities and a personal life, but don’t despair, it is possible! It’s important to create good study habits and a system that works for you!

Here are some of the strategies that have helped me “survive the IB”:

Time Management

I’ve found that managing my time wisely and getting things done on time and well ahead of due dates has been the key to my success in the IB so far. It can’t be said enough how important it is to stay on top of your workload! Assignments tend to come in all at the same time and you will have some weeks where 3 or 4 summatives are due. If you leave things to the last minute or let deadlines slip, the work will only pile up even more, causing even more stress. Try to finish homework on the night it's been assigned, work during spares if you know it’s a busy time, prioritize what work needs to be done first and never start studying the night before a test.

2. Take Breaks

Having said all of this, I’ve noticed that when school gets a little too overwhelming, it can be hard to find the motivation to get things done. Especially on the weekend (a critical time to work ahead and plan for the upcoming week), finding the energy or will to work on assignments can be challenging. To combat this, I recommend taking breaks during the day to do something you enjoy. Go for a walk, watch an episode of your favourite show, call a friend or read a chapter of your book. For me, when I have something to look forward to in between work, it gives me something to look forward to and chunks everything I have to do into sections (which can make it seem like there’s less for you to do).

3. Accept your results

Even if you put in the work, try your best and feel confident in a subject, there could be a time when you receive a mark or feedback that you’re not happy with. I’ve noticed that a lot of students put too much of an emphasis on grades, which in turn makes them put an unnecessary amount of pressure on themselves to constantly do better. Of course, everyone wants to do well and it’s a great thing to always want to improve, but if your mental well-being is being sacrificed, it’s not worth it. It doesn’t matter if you get a 93% or a 97%, as long as you know this was your best work and that you’ve put a solid effort forward to succeed, don’t be discouraged!

4. Stay organized

There are many ways that you can stay organized throughout the diploma program, which can differ from person to person. For me, I’ve found that it’s helpful to write to do lists so I can remember everything I need to do and create a schedule for myself. A lot of people use their google calendars and create customized assignment calendars too. Also, taking good notes in every class will be very helpful when studying for tests and exams. Maybe having a notebook for each subject or sub folders in your google drive for each unit could be a strategy that works for you? No matter which way you do it, just remember that all information will be useful at some point in the year.

5. Think ahead

When feeling discouraged or overwhelmed during your time in the IB, it’s nice to think about the benefits of the program and the advantages that will come in the future from having undergone this process. There may be times when you question the point of the IB. What’s the dig deal? Why should I suffer through this? Should I have taken an easier program? All of these feelings are valid and it’s important to express them. However, when I feel this way, it helps to think ahead. Think about how prepared you’ll be in university. Think about how good the IB will look to universities. Think about the amazing opportunities you have been given and how many more opportunities will come from this experience. Trust me, this may sound silly, but it doesn’t hurt.

6. Reach out

The last strategy I want to share is the importance and benefits of reaching out. Reach out to your teachers if you’re struggling in class, reach out to friends if you need someone to talk to and of course, reach out to York’s amazing support team (learning strategists, social workers, guidance counselors, etc). Remember that everyone around you wants to help and that there’s no shame in asking for that help. Taking care of your mental health is one of the most important things to do. It will really set you up for success during the diploma program!

I recommend trying these things out to help lower your levels of stress and to support your wellbeing. These two years will be difficult, but there’s no reason why you can’t enjoy the process. Hopefully, making a strong plan will make your experience more fun, less overwhelming and easier to manage. It’s never too early to start creating good habits, so even if you’re in grade 9, 10 or even Middle School, take some time to think about ways that you can take care of your mental health in the future.

Enjoy wellness week York!

For more information, check out these helpful resources!

10 tips to survive the IB:

https://vocal.media/education/10-tips-to-survive-the-ib

What to do when you’re stressing over school:

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/school-stress_b_5910612

Maintaining your mental health:

https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/publications/how-to-mental-health

Written by Sarah Rosenhek