Steps to Success: Taking the Mess Out of Stress!

Everyone gets stressed out from time to time. Between school, sports, relationships with friends and your home life, you have a lot going on! That has a lot to do with where you are right now. They call it “middle school” for a reason. You’re in between elementary school, when things probably seemed much more fun and easy, and high school, when you’ll be making decisions that affect the rest of your life. The good news is that stress is completely normal, it’s just one of those things we all experience from time to time. So how is that “good news,” you ask? Well, it turns out that there are skills you can learn that help you manage stress better.

Know What Stresses You. Have you ever felt like you were freaking out and didn’t really know why? Take some time to figure out what’s making you stressed out. Notice your feelings and vocalize them, like “I feel so overwhelmed by my busy schedule!” Writing in a journal is a great way to share your feelings, especially if
you’d rather keep them to yourself until you’re ready to talk. But if you are ready to share, talk to a parent, a friend, a school counselor or coach. Not only will you feel better letting it all out, people who care about you will try to help.

Make a Plan. Now that you’re calmer, you can really think it through. Most of the time stress is temporary, and will go away once you’ve decided what you’re going to do about the problem. For example, let’s say you’re stressed because of your homework load. You might try talking to your teachers to find out what will be expected of you in the next couple of weeks. That way you can better prepare and
prioritize assignments.

Take Care of Your Body. One of the absolute best ways to keep stress at bay is to take good care of your body. Exercising is a great stress-buster because when we exercise, our brains release neurotransmitters called endorphins, which when released, make you feel good. Choose activities you enjoy best like riding a bike, skateboarding or going for a simple walk. Breathing exercises are also helpful, especially when you are at the peak of feeling stressed out. Slowly inhale through your nose while counting to five. Let the air out from your mouth counting to eight. Repeat severaltimes. Lastly, make sure you’re eating the right foods, avoiding too much caffeine, and getting enough sleep.

Ask for Help. If you’re still having trouble figuring out what’s troubling you and your stress doesn’t go away no matter what you do, it’s especially important to talk to someone. There are stresses that are sometimes hidden, meaning you may feel bad but really just don’t know why. If you ever find yourself feeling this way, it’s OK to ask for help. Talk with your parents or school psychologists who are trained to help people work through their problems.