Hi there,

Moving up to secondary school can be a big change. There can be more to think about and higher expectations for you to remember things. It can take time to adjust and feel more organised. It’s okay to let a teacher or someone at home know when you need some support.

To feel less stressed and more in control, it can help to plan ahead. At the start of the week write down what you’ll need to bring for each day. You can then set yourself reminders. This could be an alert on your phone, notes on the door, or something you plan with your parents or carers. Then at the weekend remove those reminders and set new ones ready for the next week.

For homework, think about what helps you concentrate. Look at the place you study, think about whether you need somewhere quieter or if it would help to have music on. Think about whether having a drink and snacks to hand would help, or what would make you more comfortable. Try to think about what distracts you and how you can take that away.

Some people find it helps to set smaller goals and give yourself a reward. For example, a goal could be half an hour of English work, with a reward being 10 minutes to do something you enjoy.

Lots of people feel overwhelmed and stressed sometimes, so it can help to look for ways to manage that. Getting a good night's sleep and eating and drinking well are all really important. There are lots of ideas on how to destress and relax on our coping with stress page you might find helpful.

You’re not alone in how you’re feeling, and Childline is here for you anytime. 

I hope this helps

Take care,

Sam