Managing stress as an overworked high-school student is one of the best ways to make sure you're achieving your academic goals. Staying stress-free is no easy task, however. Stay ahead of the game, stay organized, and get the grades you're aiming for by stealing these top stress reduction tips for busy students.

1. Write down your goals and revisit them weekly

Visualizing your goals and putting them down on paper is one of the best ways to beat stress. Pick a day each week to write down your goals and to-dos. Write down a combination of long-term goals and smaller tasks. Doing this weekly will help you stay on target. Don't forget to cross off tasks as you complete them. You'll feel calmer and more motivated when you know exactly what you're working toward and seeing the progress you make each week. To make this super-simple, use a weekly planner to map out your objectives and to-dos each week so that you have everything in one place.

2. Stay organized

Skip out on last-minute scrambling and keep your room, books, supplies, and due dates well-organized. Staying organized is one of the most essential skills for success in college. Find a system that works for you and keep in mind that your favorite way to stay organized might be completely different than your friend's or your sibling's go-to method. You may prefer to write down all of your due dates in your weekly planner. You could also use a large calendar specifically for important dates. Alternatively, you could try using a planning app for your phone. Have a specific place for all of your books and supplies will keep you from misplacing them. Merely taking the time to put everything back in its place will help put your mind at ease. Schedule some time to meet with an Academic Life Coach if you're still struggling to find a system that works for you.

3. Declutter your room and homework area

Having too much stuff can cause you to spend too much time cleaning and organizing your space. Go through your closet, drawers, cabinets, and desk and get rid of the things that you no longer use or no longer love. Having less stuff around means reducing the time you spend putting away clothes, cleaning your room, and sorting through items to find something.

4. Get outside for a while

Go for a walk, swim, bike ride, or run. If you're not an outdoorsy person, getting outside will never seem like a fun idea - until you do it. Getting out and moving around can help clear your mind, de-stress, and refocus on your objectives. It's well-documented that taking study breaks is good for your productivity, as well as maximizes the way your brain functions. You might as well kill two birds with one stone by getting outside and de-stressing while you're at it.

5. Eat well, stay hydrated, and get enough sleep

We're putting this at the end of the article because you've probably heard this tip about a million times. There's a good reason for that, however. Consistent studies show that getting enough sleep reduces your stress significantly. Work on solidifying your bedtime routine and getting seven or more hours of sleep each night to wake up more prepared to take on each day. Also, eating fewer sugary snacks and drinks can help boost your energy and help you feel your best. Eating too many unhealthy snacks and sugary beverages can leave you feeling tired and inefficient, which will only add to your stress levels. Drinking plenty of water is essential!

So to recap, using a weekly planner is a popular way to organize your life because it's simple and effective. Getting outside and going for a walk or hike will provide you with multiple health benefits aside from stress-reduction. Taking care of your body and getting enough sleep leaves you well-prepared to ace any assignment that comes your way. Utilizing a combination of these tips is the most effective way to reduce stress as a student. Try adding one to your routine each week or each month until you've made all of them habitual.