· The way I manage my anxiety at school is to make sure I stay on top of my homework so that I don't fall behind, because that makes me stressed and leads me to skip school, so then I fall further behind, and it becomes a vicious cycle. · Tell your teachers that you have anxiety, so they know how to help you in the best way possible. Let them know what supports you need and get a doctor’s note if you need to. It’s also good to have the school counselor and the principal on board. · Take breaks. Sometimes the classroom can be overwhelming; talk to your teacher. It’s okay to have a break, take a walk, or get some water. Do this at home too. Go for a walk around the block. Take the dog for a walk, or just get up and get a drink of water. · Creating a routine can be beneficial. Most people with anxiety don’t cope well with surprises and chaos, so it’s best to have a regular routine for meals, sleep, exercise, homework, and social time. · Take a hot bath. Maybe your self-care preference is something else, but take out the time to do what you know relaxes you. For me, it’s a long hot bath (I’ve been known to have several a day!) · Get a good sleep: this helps your mood overall as well as anxiety, and it will help you concentrate better at school. · Eat healthy: this is under the same category as getting a good sleep as it benefits you in multiple ways and you will feel a difference is your mood and your stress levels will go down when you eat well and avoid sugar. · Get exercise. Like sleep and healthy eating, getting regular exercise – especially cardiovascular exercise where you break a sweat and your heart and breathing rate increase – is the basis for good mental health. · Get out in nature. At least once a week, go to the forest or the beach and get in touch with nature. It’s been proven to reduce stress, and I know it works for me. · Write your thoughts down or talk to somebody about what’s making you anxious Sometimes we feel anxious and we’re not sure exactly what we’re anxious about, but if you stop and think about it and maybe write it down, just realizing what it is can put it into perspective, and then you can make a plan for what to do about that thing that’s making you anxious. · The most important thing I can say is know yourself. Know what your triggers are. Do what you know is healthy for you. For example, I realized I didn’t need to cave to the peer pressure to have a large group of friends and go out at night; I am happier and calmer when I stick to a small social circle of good, supportive friends. I’d rather stay home and watch a movie or bake cookies with a good friend than go to a party. Know what makes you comfortable and what triggers your anxiety. · Seek help if you need it. (There are lots of resources on my website) · Finally, don’t let anxiety defeat you. Find that fine line between comfort and gently pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone, and it will get better, I promise.