Being a teenager is tough these days (or years). I remember when I was a teenager, I thought life was so simple and easy in those days. As a mom of two teens now, I think there’s more stress, anxiety, and stress. I’m sure some of you may disagree with me, but I do believe that the COVID-19 pandemic has alleviated more stress and other problems for our teens (and teens). So if you think you need to learn ways to de-stress for yourself or your child, keep reading.
background
According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), stress can be defined as a physical or mental response to an external cause, such as doing a lot of homework or getting sick. Stressors can be one-time or short-term, or recurring over a long period of time. Anxiety, on the other hand, is your body’s response to stress, which can occur even when there is no current threat.
Did you know that both stress and anxiety can affect your mind and body? Symptoms include excessive worry, restlessness, tension headaches or body aches, high blood pressure and/or insomnia. Please read here for more information – nimh.nih.gov.
5 ways to reduce stress
My older kids spent a week of spring break here after graduating from college and our family did some activities together. As a mom I see freshman year as a difficult transition and as an educator I see going back to school after the COVID era as a journey of adjustment and I wanted to write this for anyone looking for ways to decompress Articles in today’s world. The fast-paced world of technology, instant gratification, impulsive decisions, peer pressure, perfectionism, and striving to be the best, creates unnecessary worry and stress for kids and adults alike. I want parents and kids (or anyone!) to stop and live in the moment. It’s not about being the best, it’s about doing your best. This is not instant temptation, but delayed gratification. It’s not about being a perfectionist, it’s about being imperfect in our own way.
Here are 5 ways to reduce stress that I’ve tried and tested:
- go outside
We love hiking and since COVID started this new hobby of going to the woods a few times a year. We’ve explored state and national parks, and there are likely to be many hiking trails in any area you live. Since summer 2019, we’ve been to Sam Houston National Forest, Houston Arboretum and Nature Center, Austin State Park, Brazos Bend State Park, St. Bernard National Wildlife Refuge, and more.
Outdoor activities can be daily to at least weekly. Make it a habit to take your kids out and do it intentionally. In addition to exercise and physical activity, being outdoors provides us with fresh air, oxygen, and vitamin D, which are vital to our bodies for recovery and stress reduction.
2. Pursue hobbies
Whether it’s art, music, or sports, any interest kids can bring can be used as a way to reduce stress. Both of my children learned to play the piano at a very young age and are by no means experts. But when I see my 14-year-old play music after hours of homework, I know it’s a treat to give her a break.
Pursue a hobby, anything you do for pleasure in your spare time, that brings creativity and relaxation. By the time children are in their teens, they should have explored a variety of activities, and now is the right time to move on to what they love and enjoy the most. As teens enter high school and learning is at the forefront, it’s important to balance extracurricular activities and academics. You and your child will know what works best for your schedule. My little brother plays kickboxing and both can spend hours doing puzzles or games. Swimming is another thing they both enjoy.
3. Listen to music
Most, if not all kids have a playlist they come back to time and time again to unwind. My kids use Spotify, but there are other apps like YouTube Music, Deezer, Amazon Prime Music, Pandora, iHeartRadio, iTunes, and more that compile and store their music. Composing or producing your own music is a great way to de-stress, and having different types of music can set the tone for positive emotions and boost our mood.
According to an article published in NCBI (National Center for Biotechnology Information), many people functionally use music to regulate and enhance their emotions. The study noted that teens reported that they used music to distract from worries, manage emotions, reduce loneliness, and as a marker of self-defining identity between and within groups. The article also concludes that, historically, music has also been used for social connection, comfort, motivation or coordination of physical labor, the preservation and transmission of oral knowledge, ritual and religion, and the expression of physical or cognitive health. Music does wonders – literally!
4. Create something
Whether it’s baking, sewing, cooking, art, or anything else that helps kids make something constructive, creating something can help reduce stress for anyone. Depending on the interests and passions of teens, they can paint, sketch, paint, make origami or conduct home science experiments. Teens can bring out their creative side and start from scratch, or expand on what they might have learned in school.
My kids help me with the gardening and my older kids love to cook. Both enjoy writing, reading and drawing. Help your kids find their creativity and encourage them to pursue it!
5. Communication
Talking with family or friends can be therapeutic. Whether it’s a face-to-face conversation, phone call or face-to-face time, encourage your child (or you) to open up. Professional therapy sessions work the same way, so why not start these exchanges at home first!
Connect with friends and family and build your own little circle of comfort and happiness. Humans are social animals, and teens need to realize that. We all need each other, and a great way to get kids involved in community service is through volunteering. From a very young age, so they see you as a helping and reaching parent and hope to do the same as they grow into teens and adults.
Also, here are some other ways to decompress on a regular basis-
- exercise or move your body
- Journal or write down your thoughts
- meditation and/or mindfulness
In summary
All in all, in today’s post, I wrote about 5 ways teens (and adults) can reduce stress in their lives. Being outdoors, pursuing a hobby or passion, listening to music, staying creative, and communicating on a regular basis are all ways we teens de-stress and get out of our daily routine.
Dear readers, we would love to hear from you. Do you have teens in your family or know teens around you? How can you help them reduce stress? How do you decompress? Share your tips and ideas.
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