No one ever said being a teenager was easy, right? I mean, how many books, movies, and TV shows have centered on the lives of teens, and their ups and downs as pre-adults? Coming out of a pandemic, prepping for college, studying for the SATs, plus family drama, friend drama, boyfriend drama, girlfriend drama, sports drama, poor sleeping habits…it just never ends. You need a mental break. Heck, you deserve it.
Take a deep breath, friend. We are here to help you lower those stress levels and regain your soul. Stress is common—but manageable. And if you feel like it isn’t, that’s totally OK—you can always see a therapist for some guidance and most work with teens.
Here are 15 great and simple ways to reduce your anxiety:
- Cut out soft drinks. Studies have shown that caffeine in soda and coffee can really jumpstart your nervous system and make you anxious. Basically, they’re known for being “uppers” but can trigger anxiety. So, kick them to the curb and opt for decaf tea or water instead.
- Learn to say, ‘no.” This is a tough one because we want to be kind. But put less stress on your plate by telling friends, “I can’t help you study tonight; I need to focus on my own work.” Start practicing now to say NO – you’re only human.
- Take a shower. This sounds weird, but its therapist recommended. We aren’t saying to waste water—but if you just can’t calm down, take a nice shower, and maybe an extra minute or two to shave and use a beloved facial cream. Water can be very calming for the body, mind and soul and the sensation of rubbing body lotion on your body—especially your face post-shower feels nice.
- Jot down what you’re good at. This may initially sound goofy and cliched, but try it. Write down a list of what you’re great at, from playing tennis to writing essays to giving others makeup makeovers.
- Remind yourself no one is perfect. You don’t have to do 500 tasks in one day and be good at each one. That’s just impossible. One thing at a time, and if you don’t get to it, there’s always tomorrow.
- Cut out toxic people. If someone doesn’t make you feel good or puts you down…distance yourself from them. Surround yourself with those who make you smile and beam.
- Reduce your social media time. This one is so important cut back on your social media time. Comparing your appearance to others is not healthy—be YOU, love YOU, embrace you, and recognize Instagram is mostly just a fantasy and not real.
- Engage in physical relaxation exercises. YouTube is filled with relaxation tactics such as stretching, yoga, simple dance moves, and so on. You’ll be so much better when you get the body moving vs. sitting on the sofa all day.
- Set weekly goals. Set goals for your day, week and month instead of setting too “general” life goals. You’ll feel more in control if you take it day-by-day.
- Say thank you. Express gratitude to yourself—thank your body for being strong, including your mind; thank your friends for being there, and your parents for putting up with you during the pandemic…you’ll feel so much better when you express gratitude and let go of any guilt.