We say teenagers like the sun at 8am, which means they are going to make progress, they are going to have a bright future. However, teenagers do have to know how to manage stress, because nowadays with the increasing competition and increasing distraction, they are under pressure. They are trying to figure out their future path, where they fit into the world, they sometimes feel lost, sometimes become over-anxious; they need parents’ guidance and support to develop stress management skills.
What teens worry about?
In this world with a lot of uncertainty, everybody has worries. Teenagers have no exception. A teen may worry about:
- future path
- grades
- extracurricular activities
- body changes
- family concerns
- friend problems
Because teens are still in the developmental process, they start to face pressure and to learn how to cope it properly, problems even do not look serious from an adult point of view may make them insurmountable. Some teens become overloaded with stress, and can not manage stress well leading to anxiety, withdrawal, aggression, physical or mental illness.
Suggestions to parents
In order to help your teens to manage their stress properly, parents need to watch for their stress overloading carefully.
- Monitor your teen closely including his or her health, behavior, thoughts and emotion
- Talk to your teen often and listen to him or her carefully
- Encourage your teen in making good friends
- Support your teen in involving in sports and other extracurricular activities
Guiding teens on stress management
Stress handling is a skill, which is a part of EQ. Teenagers definitely need to develop this basic and key skill to become an adult who faces more stressful world. The following are some of the advice to best help teenagers combat the stressors not only during their high school years but also in their lives.
Encourage teens to exercise regularly
Exercise can re-generate brain cells and make a person feel energetic, and therefore increase one’s self-confidence. It is a great stress reliever and a great habit one needs to have for one’s life towards health, happiness and success. Relaxation exercises such as Yoga, abdominal breathing and muscle relaxation, are recommended.
Encourage teens to eat well
Eating regularly and well, eating nutritious and balanced meals avoiding caffeine and fast-food also can help teens to be healthy physically and mentally towards lowering stress.
Encourage teens sleep well
Sleeping is one of a person’s basic needs. Getting enough sleep for teens is extremely important, which can decrease their stress as well.
Encourage teens to talk
Talking to somebody, such as a family member, a friend, can low stress too. As parents, we want our kids come to us and talk to us, which we need build a very good relationship with them gaining their trust is the key.
Encourage teens to take a break
High school students having challenge courses are very busy these days. Parents should encourage them to take a break from stressful situations when necessary and suggest them to do some things like listening to music, talking to a friend, drawing, writing, etc., which can reduce stress.
By using these and other positive stress management techniques, teenagers can learn to manage stress and improve EQ, building the fundamental capability in their life.
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