When you think of life skills, stress management might not be the first thing that comes to mind. However, stress management is a vital part of having a healthy and balanced life. Before looking at stress management methods, we first have to debunk several myths about stress management. There is no cure-all, no quick fix for stress. Learning to manage stress is a skill that takes effort and practice to improve upon. Even if you learn to manage stress, it will still be a part of life. Learning to radically accept that stress will be a part of your life and learning to talk about it in a way that doesn’t victimize yourself are vital pieces of stress management. While there are no quick fixes, there are several specific ways that might help to manage stress. Different things work for different people, so it takes time and effort to figure out what the most effective method of stress management is for you.

 With all of that said, there are three main parts to managing stress. First, there is tackling the problem. If you identify what is causing you stress, then it is easier to find a way to address it. Different kinds of stress are managed in different ways. For example, there is a difference in handling stress that is internally created, and externally created. Once you know what causes you stress, you are better equipped to manage it. Sometimes the things that cause us stress can be avoided. Choosing to remove yourself from people, places, and other things that are toxic can reduce stress. It is important to not ignore problems, and to try to address them. However, there are some things that cause us stress that we don’t have any control over. If we don’t have control over a situation, then letting it go can also be beneficial.

 The second main part of stress management is taking care of yourself. Exercise is a huge part of stress management. When we are stressed, our brain and body can go into ‘flight or fight’ mode. Exercise can help to burn off that stress and put that energy somewhere else. Active relaxation is another method that can help your body to handle stress. Taking slow, deep breaths can help relax your body, and make a stress reaction less severe. In addition to methods like exercise and relaxation, diet can play a role in stress. Having a nutritious and balanced diet can help to regulate your mood, as well as keeping you alert and focused during the day. However, even if you put into practice all of these methods, they may not help much if you aren’t getting enough sleep. Not getting enough sleep can make emotional regulation difficult, which in turn can make you feel more stressed.

The third and final tenet of managing stress is dealing with emotions. This can be done by taking time for yourself and finding ways to release tension and stress that work for you. Reading, drawing, playing, or listening to music, or going on walks can all help to relieve tension. Different ways of releasing tension work for different people, so what might work for your friend, or your parents might not work for you. Part of stress management is self-discovery since everyone’s stress is unique.

Stress management takes time and effort to develop, but these methods are a good starting point for learning how to manage your stress. Remember to give yourself grace when learning to manage your stress. It won’t happen overnight. The methods presented in this article are from a worksheet given to me by Kelsey Nylund, our Middle and Upper School counselor. This worksheet will be linked below. Finally, if you feel that you need outside help, parents, teachers, and/or counselors are places to go for assistance and to talk. Stress management is an important life skill that can improve your quality of life, and hopefully these tips and methods help you on your way to learning to manage your stress.

http://www.fosteringresilience.com/pdf/stress_management_plan.pdf