As a senior in high school, I’m feeling the stress of schoolwork, college, extracurriculars, and graduation. It seems like there are a million things to do and not enough time to do them. Plus spring fever and senioritis has taken hold of me and only makes motivation harder to find. All this stress got me thinking: do teenagers have just as much stress as adults?
A recent survey by the American Psychological Association found that teenagers have even MORE stress than adults. The survey looked at more than 1,000 teenagers and 2,000 adults who answered questions about their overall stress levels and coping habits. The survey revealed that 27% of teenagers reported feeling extreme stress during the school year, compared to 20% of adults.
Unsurprisingly the levels of extreme stress among teens fell to 13% over the summer months, and 34% of teens surveyed said they expected their stress levels to increase over the next year due to a variety of stressors like school, work, family and friends.
The survey also found that teens generally aren’t good at managing their stress in healthy ways. Over 40% of said they played video games or went online to relax. Perhaps adults have lower levels of stress because they know how to manage their stress, unlike teenagers.
So what is a good way to deal with the stress that most teenagers are dealing with? I found five ways to alleviate stress that are simple and easy to do and take 15 minutes or less.
- Meditate
It sounds silly, but this really works. Just sit up straight with both feet on the floor and close your eyes. Then focus on a positive saying like “I feel at peace.” Try very hard to stay focused on your saying; if you’re having trouble, place your hand on your belly and match your saying with your breaths.
- Be Present
Slow down and take five minutes a day to focus on only one behavior. Notice how the air feels on your face when you’re walking and how your feet feel hitting the ground. Enjoy the texture and taste of each bite of food. When you spend time in the moment and focus on your senses, you should feel less tense.
- Breathe Deeply
Take five minutes every day to focus on your breathing instead of your stress. Sit up straight in a chair with your eyes closed. Put your hand on your belly and slowly inhale through your nose. Try to feel the breath start in your abdomen and work its way to your head then go back again. The point is to reduce the effects of stress by slowing your heart rate and lowering your blood pressure.
- Reach Out
Social networking is one of your best tools for handling stress if you do it right. Talk to other people and share what’s going on in your life and what’s stressing you out. Those close to you can relate and give a new prospective on what’s bothering you.
- Decompress
Place a warm heat wrap around your neck and shoulders for about ten minutes. Close your eyes and relax your face, neck, and back muscles. Remove the wrap, and use your hands to massage away your tension in your neck or back.
Remember that not all of these tips work for everyone. Good luck out there and please find what stress reliever works for you.