Ferris Bueller said, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”

Stress can make one lose perspective and, in this day and age, everyone has confronted it.

How one chooses to channel or alleviate it differs per individual.

However, too much stress produces negative effects.

“Getting too stressed can cause your brain to not be able to process information,” school counselor Madiha Jamil said. “You will have a hard time focusing, which will prohibit you from retaining information the next day too.”

Certain tools, if taken advantage of effectively, can greatly decrease stress levels.

The popularity of exercise in regard to channeling and relieving stress can be credited to the endorphins gained while moving. This creates a positive impact on one’s mood and allows individuals to release pent-up energy.

Students and teachers often exercise or participate in sports to eliminate some of their stress levels.

“When I am feeling stressed, I like to go outside and exercise,” English teacher Rachel Siska said. “It really helps me to calm down.”

However, exercise is not the only physical way to relieve stress.

Getting eight or more hours of sleep per night can also assist one’s body in combating and dealing with stress.

“If you have a lack of sleep when you get to the building, your brain is not prepared,” Jamil said. “A lack of sleep doesn’t give your mind time to rejuvenate.”

While keeping up with exercise and sleep is important, it is also essential to monitor food intake. Proper nutrition encourages the mind and body to battle stress more effectively.

Complex carbs, such as fruits, and Omega-3s will improve brain function, which essentially will allow for clearer thinking to channel stress.

However, certain stresses are not in student control and therefore can be set aside or ignored.

“I ask myself if this is something worth stressing over and if it’s not I don’t let it bother me,” senior JD Mullins said. “If it is, I calm myself down with a deep breath and just solve the problem at hand.”

Often, students feel more comfortable prioritizing their stresses in order to conserve energy for activities or assignments of greater importance.

“I put my stress in perspective so I can see the bigger picture instead of just focusing on my smaller stresses,” freshman Max Isaacs said. “It helps me spend more time thinking about the more important stuff.”

Activities and hobbies are effective distractions, allowing time for student’s minds to rejuvenate.

Senior Joseph Kidane de-stresses by dedicating part of his day to being alone.

“I like to spend time alone in my room, just me and my laptop,” Kidane said.

Using hobbies to take mental breathers is effective as the activity separates the person from the cause of his or her stress.

After a break, one’s mind will be better prepared to handle the stress-causing task.

Senior Erin Persil utilizes her love of Spongebob to alleviate her stress.

“Having a hobby is a good way to deal with stress,” Persil said. “I like to collect Spongebob stuff. It makes me happy. Coloring Spongebob coloring books also helps me to distress.”

Art and music allow students to express their emotion or feelings, which can clear the mind. This can make dealing with stress an easier process.

Listening to music or experiencing arts also has a positive impact on the body, allowing for one to relax.

“I listen to music when I’m dealing with stress,” junior Lily Swartz said. “It helps me to relax. When I’m relaxed I can handle homework better and get rid of some of the tasks on my plate that make me stressed.”

Using the proper tools, anybody can deal with stress in a healthy manner.

“Students thrive better on positive stress-buster activities,” Jamil said. “These include things like exercise, writing in a diary, talking to peers, or anything else you enjoy. And, of course, if you get too stressed, your counselors are here for you.”