Five Tips to Help Teens Cope with Stress [downloadable]

High school teens spend most of their time attending classes, participating in extracurricular activities and doing homework. There is constant pressure to do everything and do it well to prepare for a successful career or higher education after high school. This can cause a lot of stress.

Use these tips to take a break from the barrage of constant communication and manage your stress in a healthy way.

Get some sleep. Getting enough sleep helps you grow and develop normally, pay attention throughout the day and maintain overall health. For teens, this means about 8-10 hours each night.

Focus on your strengths. Take some time to think about what you’re good at and ways to do more of those things. By focusing on and building your strengths, you can keep your stressors in perspective.

Do things that make you happy. Find activities or hobbies that make you happy and incorporate them into your daily life. This might be a physical sport, an artistic outlet or spending time with family and friends.

Engage in physical activity. Exercise takes our mind off stress and releases chemicals in our brain that make us feel better. This can be anything from a stroll in the park to a bike ride or basketball game with friends.

Talk to someone. It can be hard to manage stress alone. Talk to a parent, teacher or other trusted adult about your problems and they may be able to help you find new ways to manage your stress.

Source: Mental Health First Aid | Five Tips to Help Teens Cope with Stress, https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/2019/06/five-tips-to-help-teens-cope-with-stress | ©2019 National Council for Behavioral Health. Last reviewed September 2022.

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