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Stress!
Not enough and life is dull and
boring. Too much and you feel like you're going to jump off
the deep end.
I asked a group of teenagers
what they do when they're too stressed out for comfort. Here
are some of their suggestions:
Exercise.
Nothing beats a good workout to let off steam. Michelle
likes to run. "It's free, I can do it anywhere, and
when I'm done I always feel better."
Basketball, aerobics, biking,
swimming and walking are also popular. According to Jack,
nothing beats karate. "I take all my frustration out
on the punching bag. I punch it, kick it, and yell. It gets
the anger out."
Music.
Karlee's been playing piano for years. After a particularly
rough day, she pounds the keyboard. "I lose myself
in the music," she says.
A lot of kids said that listening
to music was a fabulous release. While loud music tends
to make parents tense, it seems to have opposite effect
on their "offspring" (pun intended.)
Massage.
A group of girls gave me an emphatic yes on this one. "We
take turns," explained Janine, "rubbing each other's
shoulders and necks. When your muscles are really tight
you know you're stressed."
Another way to reduce stress
is to examine what's causing it and attempt to eliminate the
source. Here are a few suggestions for finding the root
of the problem:
Over-scheduling.
Is it possible you're doing too much? Make a list of all
your activities, then rate each one in terms of importance.
Consider
your motives. Are you working weekends because you
really need the money, or to afford designer sneakers?
Are you taking an honors class
because you enjoy the challenge, or because it'll look good
on your college applications? Consider doing less and enjoying
it more.
"Should"
s. Do you find yourself saying yes when you want
to say no, because you think you should? If pleasing others
is your sole motive, ask yourself: What do I really want?
De-cluttering
relationships. Do you have friends you don't particularly
like? Do you hang around with them out of habit?
Just as you clean your drawers
out after each growth spurt, and try on new clothes, try
on some new friends. If the old ones don't fit, who needs
them?
Finally,
here are a few tips that work for me:
Breathe.
When I'm tense, I forget to breathe. A few deep breaths
help to relax.
Meditate.
You don't have to climb the Himalayas to meditate. Simply
close your eyes, breath deeply and concentrate on a simple,
positive thought. The experts recommend 20 minutes a day,
but even five minutes a week is helpful.
Talk.
A trouble shared is a trouble halved. After griping to a
friend I always feel better. When I hear her troubles I'm
glad that at least I don't have that problem!
After my grandmother died I
felt as if no one understood. Talking to friends just made
me feel worse. A therapist who specialized in bereavement
helped me express my sorrow and accept the grieving process.
If a problem doesn't go away, consider seeing a professional.
Laugh.
Nothing beats a funny movie, comedy tape or the latest joke.
Cry.
Tears have a way of washing away tension. Holding them back,
on the other hand, causes more stress. Let it all out.
Mini-Vacation.
While I'd like to fly to Hawaii for two weeks on the beach,
I make do with a bubble bath or a trip to the ice-cream
parlor at the mall. When I feel like I'm too busy to take
a break, that's usually exactly when I need one.
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