Stress. We all have to deal with it and none of us like it. This school year is in full swing and that means our stress levels, mine included, are through the roof. Everyone deals with stress in their own way, so I asked around to try and capture some of those different methods.
Many of the people that I asked said they don’t really manage their stress, that they just live with it. This is not healthy. If you don’t handle stress appropriately, it can start to affect you mentally, physically, and emotionally. Sleep will be one of your best friends when it comes to stress management, but stress can also cause you to lose sleep. To help with this set a reasonable bedtime and stick to it.
One thing I know, most teens stress about how much stress they have. If you suffer from this, first things first, take a deep breath! Just remember that everything will be okay. When you have an overwhelming schedule, or whatever it may be, be sure to keep a positive mindset. Making lists will help you to focus and manage your time. It’s quite satisfying to see everything crossed off and know that you completed the task at hand.
When inquiring on how other people deal with stress, my favorite response was from one of my good friends, Caytlin Meribela. She said when she’s stressed she likes to “surround herself with life.” I questioned her further, not exactly knowing what she meant by that. Caitlyn explained that she likes to surround herself with her friends and nature. She pulls a sense of peace from nature and a sense of comfort from being with her friends. I loved this and thought it was very insightful.
Another favorite response, was to expel your stress creatively. I have some very artistic friends and they like to create art, write stories, and write poems. Don’t worry, even if you can barely draw a stick figure, or write a paragraph, this can still apply to you. Even just listening to your favorite song can help you calm down and give you a bit of distraction from your stress.
So the next time you feel stressed or overwhelmed don’t freak out- just take a breath, surround yourself with things that make you happy, and don’t overthink it. All of life’s problems have a solution!
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