Students finding phone-free ways to unwind

After full days of classes, assignments and pretending to actually understand what’s going on in math, stress can build up fast. For a lot of students, the first instinct is to grab their phone when they get home and start scrolling. And while, yes, that might feel relaxing for about five minutes, it usually turns into an hour … or more like three.

At some point, students start to realize that being on screens all day at school, then going home and being on a screen, doesn’t actually fix the stress; it just pushes it down.

Instead, many teens are finding better ways to unwind that don’t just involve staring at TikTok until their eyes hurt.

For senior Aiden Schmidt, getting out of the house is the best way to reset. Instead of just staying inside, he likes to get out and actually do something, even if it’s simple.

“Honestly, just going on drives or hanging out with my friends or girlfriend helps a lot,” Schmidt said. “It takes my mind off of school and everything else that’s going on.”

Senior Ben Richards agreed, saying that it’s not really about what you do, but about who you’re with.

“Being around friends, even if we aren’t doing any crazy things, just helps you relax a little,” Richards said. “It’s a really good way to forget about stress for a while.”

For some students, though, the best way to deal with stress is by staying busy, not just with schoolwork. Senior Bryer Padgett spends a lot of time working at DR Powersports in Hudson, and, surprisingly, that’s where he feels the least stressed.

“I think it’s because working gives me something else to focus on,” Padgett said. “It keeps me busy, and I don’t really think about school or home stress when I’m there.”

It turns out that having other responsibilities outside of school can actually feel like a break … which says a lot about how stressful school can really be.

Even younger students are finding ways to escape the constant screen time and school stress. Sophomore Hunter Kotur said that he prefers being outside, especially in places where there isn’t Wi-Fi, which somehow is the point.

“I like playing baseball or going fishing,” Kotur said. “Just being outside helps clear your head.”

While yes, scrolling might be the easiest option, students are realizing that it’s not always the most helpful way to deal with stress or escape real-world responsibilities. Whether it’s going on drives, working, or just being outside, getting away from screens can make a bigger difference than students expected. 

Sometimes, the best way to deal with stress isn’t on your phone … even if your screen time says otherwise.