Blak and forth: Coping with stress

This video was produced in partnership with Studio Gilay. Words by Phoebe McIlwraith, a Bundjalung Githabal and Worimi Saltwater dubay/galbaan (woman). Phoebe is a journalist and content producer based in ‘Sydney’.

When it comes to assignments and exams, stress pretty much comes with the territory. But even when it really ramps up, there are things you can do to help manage it. Hear Alex, Anisha and Mia yarn about how to cope with stress during those final years of school.

Read a transcript of the video.

Find what makes you feel good 

Alex, Anisha and Mia all had different ways of coping with stress during their final school years. And they might be worth a try for you, too:

• Connect with Country. Get out in nature and reconnect to Country in a way that feels authentic to you. For some mob, like Anisha, that’s being out bush, camping and fishing. For others, it could be going for a hike, spending time in a local park, or having a dip at the coast. 

• Be with family. Like Alex, this might be your close family and kinship. Or it could be your chosen family, such as close friends, or, like Mia, your pets. Being with close ones can give you that sense of comfort you need to relax and unwind.

• Get into hobbies. You deserve to do things other than just schoolwork! Whether it’s playing sports, meditating, painting, gaming, weaving or listening to music, there are heaps of things you can do to take a break from school and to relax. 

Finding the things that make you feel good, and making time for them, is a form of self-care. In other words, it’s the things you can do to look after and maintain your social and emotional wellbeing. Investing in yourself in this way can give you strength, as well as the self-belief to know that you’ve got what it takes to overcome stressful situations.

Lean on people, don’t be Shame

Leaning on the knowledge, wisdom and care of others in your life can help to lighten the load and validate your feelings. Your friends, family or community members can give you personal support and share with you their own experiences.

Teachers, and school staff like an Aboriginal Liaison Officer, are also important people you can lean on during stressful times. They can help you to apply for extensions on assignments or to get special provisions for exams. They can also connect you with professionals, like psychologists, who can work with you to manage your stress and challenge your perceptions about those final school years.