Get Enough Sleep

Some teenagers have so many demands on their time and energy that they don’t even have room in their schedule for sleep. If your child has been up into the late hours of the night consistently to work on research papers and study for exams, it’s no wonder that he or she is so stressed out!

While young people can admittedly function with less sleep than adults, it’s not without consequence; Stanford Medicine reports that sleep deprivation increases their chances of poor grades, anxiety, depression, concentration problems, and even suicidal thoughts. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends that those between the ages of 13 and 18 should sleep 8 to 10 hours every 24 hours. So, make sure your son or daughter is managing their time efficiently during the day so they can get to bed at a reasonable time and get sufficient sleep.

Exercise Regularly

Exercise is one of the best ways to achieve natural stress relief. Cardio, circuit training, strength training, and interval training will keep your heart rate high, helping to release all the stored up tension in the body to promote post-workout relaxation. If your teen isn’t one for going to the gym, perhaps yoga for stress relief would be an enjoyable alternative. This practice puts the participant in tune with their body, helping them get their thoughts and breathing under control, alleviating excess muscle tension through stretching and meditation.

Keep a Journal

Journaling can be an excellent outlet for emotions. Writing in a journal about trauma not only provides release, it also helps them process negative events and heal from them. Research shows that journaling can strengthen the immune response, improve mental function, and counteract negative stress responses. Making this a habit can provide your teen with clarity about their thoughts, feelings, and emotions and help them make changes that will alleviate the stress in their life.

Practice Positive Affirmations

Your teen might seem happy and self-assured on the outside, yet be struggling with heavy self doubts on the inside that are causing them stress. Positive affirmations can help them counteract those negative thoughts and feelings. These are essentially sayings they can repeat to themselves to assume a more positive mindset and boost their confidence. Examples of positive affirmations for teens sound like “I AM”:

• “loved by my parents, teachers, and friends.”
• “smart and capable of succeeding in all of my classes.”
• “okay to feel scared. I don’t always have to be strong. This doesn’t mean I am weak.”
• “empowered to change my life for the better. I believe in myself.”

Work with your teen to pinpoint his or her fears, strengths, and weaknesses to craft custom affirmations that will give them strength each day.

Stay Organized

Nothing creates feelings of stress faster than a disorganized backpack, bedroom, or desk. If your teen doesn’t have inherent organizational skills, it’s time to intervene. Organization is an easy means of stress management for teenagers.