Being a teenager is difficult; there is a vast amount of pressure being put on them, including the feeling that they have to know what they want to be when they grow up or knowing everything there is about becoming an adult. They also have pressures they put on themselves, in spite of the fact that they have this stigma about how they are lazy or that they are always on their phones. In fact, a lot of teenagers want to be the best versions of themselves. While it is not possible to speak for everyone, it is how many teenagers feel. Yes, the stress will not equate to what adults have to deal with, but what some people forget to realize is that that the times are different and teenagers are hard on themselves. School and everyday life is stressful, so here are some strategies on how to reduce that dwelling factor. This does not go in order of importance; rather, use whichever is needed at a certain time.

1. Accept that you cannot control everything
   • Does anybody really have everything in control. I don’t think so. So, you must come to terms that not everything will go as planned. You also must put the stress in perspective and ask: “Is it really that bad?” or “what are others going through around the world?”
2. Do your best
   • Be okay with failing at things; I know it’s hard because we want to be perfect but that’s impossible. Instead of putting yourself down for it, be proud with however far you got.
3. Power naps
   • No, I do not mean a six-hour nap like I have heard people do. I am talking about a 10-30 minute nap to recharge your tired body. Just make sure you wake up when the alarm goes off.
4. PMR
   • This is called Progressive Muscle Relaxation, where it involves tensing and relaxing all of the major muscles in your body in order from your head to your feet. This helps with the reduction of overall tension in the body.
5. Positive affirmation
   • Studies show that when you think of being positive in a certain situation, you are more likely to become positive; it just takes being a little more optimistic.
6. Treat yourself
   • There is nothing wrong with wanting to pamper yourself on any given day. So, if you need to, do it. Or if you need to buy something that would make you feel better, do it. Just make sure it is something that you won’t regret and is healthy for you either in a physical, emotional, or social way.

These are just some ideas, but there are many other ways you can de-stress yourself. So once you find out the source of the stress, you can find the way to alleviate it that works best for you.

https://www.verywellmind.com/top-school-stress-relievers-for-students-3145179

https://adaa.org/tips-manage-anxiety-and-stress