When Does the Stress Become too Much?

Everyone deals with stress differently and can tolerate different amounts. There are many things that stress us out, too. This can range from a fight with your parents before going to school, to feeling like you failed your test, to trying to be popular or wear the latest fashions. Dealing with stress is stressful even in itself! Some people eat away their stress, while some exercise or go shopping, and some turn to harmful behavior to find relief.

Harmful behavior can include sneaking alcohol from your parents’ stash, smoking cigarettes, cutting yourself or inflicting harm to your own body, or even turning to harsher drugs like prescriptions. These forms of “stress relief” take you to another place that you can become easily addicted to, which are very unhealthy and dangerous, and can last into adulthood.

It is important that you as a teen find healthy coping mechanisms that aren’t just a quick fix. Other options to harming oneself doesn’t involve quitting cold-turkey, but might include seeing a counselor to talk about your life and what you may be feeling or even join a support group. Usually a school counselor or your professional counselor will be able to tell you about any support groups in your area. Sometimes even talking to a pastor, teacher, coach, a friend, or anyone who is a trusted adult that can really help these feelings of hopelessness and intense stress.

There are other ways to cope with stress, so don’t let harmful behavior run your life.

Have more questions? Visit this link or talk to your doctor, counselor, or psychiatrist.

Managing Daily Life

One thing you learn starting from a little kid in school is time management. It comes in many forms and usually progresses as you mature and move up in grades. More responsibility is added, especially when you throw sports or theater, really any after school program into the mix. Sometimes it can be very difficult to find time to still hang out with friends and do homework. Even once you get into college, time is consumed faster than you realize and you wonder how in the world you are going to be on time for work or finish that essay before the deadline.

A few things to keep in mind as you add new hobbies, or keep old ones, is to remain organized, calm and collected. This is no easy task, especially when you don’t know where to start. Here are a few tips to help you manage what little time you have, better.

1. Make a list. Organize what you need to by prioritizing it. I find that I like to get the little, simple things done first. This helps me be able to focus on the harder tasks for a longer period of time since I don’t have the small things in the back of my mind. There are others that take on the harder tasks first to get them out of the so the rest is smooth sailing. Whatever works best for you is the best way.

2. Remove distractions. This can be difficult, but it is effective. I work better when the space around me is clean and not so cluttered, with some good music in the background. I tend to clean up my space, eat, or whatever I have to do first so that when I start to work I can get into the zone and focus. Sometimes not worrying about the area you usually work in is better and just moving to a new location that is quiet or away from your home can be helpful.

3. Take breaks. This is a good point to remember, but be careful not to take advantage of it because it can easily turn into procrastination. If you have a lot of little tasks to do, finish a couple or just one and take break to clear your mind. If you are working on a big project, take a break every hour or so. Clear your mind by taking a nap, eating, cleaning, yoga, playing video games, or going on a short run, basically anything that will refresh you, your mind, and your stamina.

4. Give yourself small deadlines. This is especially helpful when you are working on big projects because it will allow you to work steadily on it while preventing stress, but ensuring quality. Also, treat yourself once you meet your goal and mini-deadline. This will help you stay motivated and on track.

Sometimes a plan may not always work out the way you had intended, which is okay. Learn to be flexible and to transition from one step to the next, while still allowing for the possibility of change. Not only will this help you time-manage in school, but later in life when you start a career!

Food for Thought

It could be said that man and woman’s best friend is food.  Just think about it, where do you tend to bond most with people you know? At the lunch table in the cafeteria, at a pizza parlor, at an ice cream shop, over popcorn while watching a movie, or even at BBQ’s and sports events where food is the thing to bring.  When winter arrives and you can’t do anything outside because of the weather, what do you like to do? Grab a snack.  If you are stressed out about family issues, schoolwork, and relationship problems, what do you do? Grab a snack.  It is actually quite natural for us to grab a snack when we are bored or stressed out.  It can be considered even healthy-if you chose the right snacks. 

According to an article found on WebMD, there are foods that you can eat during the winter months to help fight depression (Lawrence, 2005).  Due to the lack of sunlight during winter, levels of serotonin (a chemical in the brain that helps make you feel happy) decrease, but then increase as the days get longer during springtime.   By eating foods that are high in carbohydrates and proteins during the shorter days, it will boost serotonin levels in your brain and thus decrease the symptoms of depression.  But what do foods like this look like? They are known as fruits (bananas are great!), popcorn, nuts, veggies, as well as many other things.  To check out more types of food and other ways to increase your feel-good in the membrane chemical, click on this link “Foods that Fight Winter Depression.”

Eat up!!