Stress relief

Becoming more independent is great. But it comes with extra responsibilities – and that can mean you may be feeling stressed out. Maybe you’re trying to do well at school, get along at home, or fit in with your friends. For one reason or another, you’re going to feel stress. The question is how do you deal with it? Here’s a positive look at stress and how to find relief.

So what is stress anyway?

Stress is your body’s way of rising to a challenge. It’s the “fight or flight response”, which happens to your body when you’re in a difficult situation –your body does some major preparation to tough out and fight what you’re facing, or get out of there fast.

To make you alert, focused and ready to act, adrenaline and hormones are released into your bloodstream, which speeds up your heart rate, blood pressure and metabolism. So when you need to slam on the brakes, make the winning shot, or cram for an exam, stress can work for you.

But when what’s stressing you out is ongoing, pressure at school, or dealing with a family challenge like your mom having breast cancer, the stress responses may not shut off. You may feel anxious, have trouble sleeping, or your stomach may feel upset.

Because being stressed out can make it difficult to be your own fun self and some stressed teens opt for unhealthy behaviours like overeating, or using food, alcohol, drugs and cigarettes, it’s important that you have positive options for stress relief.

Chill out with these tips

Check out these ways to chill out, and deal with your stress.

Exercise. One of the healthiest ways to deal with stress is exercise. Having a regular exercise program can help lower the effects of stress and keep you feeling healthier everyday. If you’re dealing with a stressful situation, go for a run or get out the yoga mat and do some stretching. It’s a lot more effective and healthy than digging into a bag of cookies.

Try the quiz: What’s your exercise personality?

Eat right. Light-headedness, mood swings and low energy can all be the result of a bad diet. So when you’re stressed out, remember to eat – that means never skipping breakfast – and eat healthy. Including plenty of water, fruit and vegetables in your diet can help boost your energy and brain power.

For healthy eating tips, check out The Canada Food Guide to Healthy Eating.

Just breathe. Breathing exercises are a quick way to relieve stress, anywhere, anytime. And they’re so easy. Just slowly inhale through your nose, counting to five in your head. Then exhale through your mouth, counting to seven. Repeat several times and you’ll be blowing out your stress.

Catch some zzzz’s. When you don’t get enough sleep, it’s hard to deal with everything that’s going on. And when you’re overtired, a problem can seem way out of proportion. That heaps on the stress. So it’s important to get at least 8 hours of sleep every night. Need more rest? Power naps can help you refresh and chill.

Share the load. Tell someone you trust about what’s stressing you. Just talking may help you feel better. Plus, they may help you see the big picture or come up with a solution. They may even offer to pitch in to help lighten your load.

Play music. Music affects how you feel. So it’s only natural that music can help you relieve stress. All strung out? Try listening to some of your more soothing tunes. Feeling down and lethargic? Get energized by playing upbeat music. Bonus: dancing’s another powerful stress reliever.

Stay organized. Clutter causes stress and decreases your productivity. So having a messy room or study area can have a negative impact on you. Keeping your space organized and free from clutter can help reduce your stress. Another added bonus, less hassle – that means less stress – from your parents.

Journal. Writing things down can help clarify how you feel. And sometimes solving your problems is easier. From recording your ideas in a notebook to keeping an online blog, journaling can help you cope with stress. (But remember, it’s usually best to keep your journal private.)

Laugh. A fit of the giggles may be just the thing to relieve your stress. It’s been proven that laughter is good for you, both mentally and physically. So look for the humour in your situation. Or chill with some of the funniest videos on YouTube.

Volunteer. It’s almost impossible to feel stressed about your own stuff when you’re helping someone else. Whether it’s signing up for a service project, or shopping for an elderly neighbour, helping others can give you some great feelings.

Give yourself a break. Nobody’s perfect. Maybe your biggest critic – the person responsible for much of your stress – is you! Try giving yourself a pass sometimes and remember, everybody has stress in their life. Above all, you’re not alone.

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