If you are so stressed that you can't even think straight, the best way to get your head together fast is to work it out through exercise.

Creating Your Personal Stress-Management Plan

Following is a 10-point plan to help you manage stress.

All of these ideas can lower stress without doing any harm. None are quick fixes, but they will lead you toward a healthy and successful life. The plan is divided into 4 parts.

  • Tackling the problem
  • Taking care of my body
  • Dealing with emotions
  • Making the world better

When you read over the plan, you’ll notice that you can come up with a bunch of ideas for each point. PLEASE don’t think you should try them all. This plan is supposed to help you reduce stress, not give you more. Try out some ideas, then stick to one or two ideas for each point.

You might notice that this plan is almost like building a college or work résumé. This is the sane way to build a résumé; you are doing it to manage your life and remain happy and prepared for success, not to cram in activities to impress someone else. It will ensure you’re healthy and balanced, and that’s very attractive to colleges and employers.

Part 1: Tackling the Problem

Point 1: Identify and Then Address the Problem.
First decide if a problem is a real tiger or just feels like one.  If it can’t hurt you chances are that it can be better handled with clear thinking. This means turning off those thoughts that make you interpret the situation as a disaster.

  • A lot of people cope by ignoring problems. This doesn't make them go away; usually they just get worse.
  • People who cope by trying to fix problems tend to be emotionally healthier.
  • When it comes to studying or chores, it is best get the work done first. Because work or studying produces stress, many people put it off and choose to do fun things first. The problem with that is they’re not really having fun because they’re worrying about the work they’re ignoring. And of course, the longer they put it off, the more they worry. The cycle is endless.

Three ideas can help you manage a lot of work:

  • Break the work into small pieces. Then do one small piece at a  time, rather than look at the whole huge mess. As you finish each piece, the work becomes less overwhelming.
  • Make lists of what you need to do. This will help you sleep because your head won’t spin with worry about whether you can do everything. At the end of the day, you’ll have less to worry about as you check off the things you have finished. You will look at the same huge amount of work and realize you can handle it.
  • Timelines can help with big projects.

Fights with parents and friends don’t go away unless you deal with what upset you in the first place, or unless everyone apologizes and decides to forgive each other.

Point 2: Avoid stress when possible.
Sometimes we know exactly when we are headed for trouble. Avoiding trouble from a distance is easier than dealing with it up close. You know the people who might be a bad influence on you, the places where you’re likely to get in trouble, and the things that upset you. Choose not to be around those people, places, and thingsthat mess you up.

Point 3: Let some things go.
It’s important to try to fix problems, but sometimes there is nothing you can do to change a problem. For example, you can’t change the weather, so don’t waste your energy worrying about it. You can’t change the fact that teachers give tests, so just study instead of complaining about how unfair they are. You can’t change the fact that your parents need to know where you go, so prove that you’re responsible and deserve more freedoms. People who waste their energy worrying about things they can’t change don’t have enough energy left over to fix the things they can.  Also learn when not to take things personally. You feel badly for no reason when you take something personally that really has little to do with you.


Part 2: Taking Care of My Body

Point 4: The Power of Exercise.
Exercise is the most important part of a plan to manage stress. When you are stressed, your body is saying, “Run!” So do it. Exercise every day to control stress and build a strong, healthy body. You may think you don’t have time to exercise when you are most stressed, but that is exactly when you need it the most. If you are stressed about an assignment, but too nervous to sit down and study—exercise! You will be able to think better after you have used up those stress hormones. Some people exercise before school because they can focus and learn better.

Point 5: Active Relaxation.
You can flip the switch from being stressed to relaxed if you know how to fool your body. Because your body can only use the relaxed or emergency nervous system at any one time, you can turn on the relaxed system. You do this by doing the opposite of what your body does when it is stressed. Here are 2 ideas.

  • Breathe deeply and slowly. Try the 4–8 breathing technique. Lie on your back and place your hands on your belly with your fingers loose. Deep breaths first fill the belly, then chest, then mouth, the breath expands the belly and your hands pull gently apart. Take a full breath while counting to 4. Then hold that breath for about twice as long, or an 8 count. Then slowly let it out to the count of 8, or even longer if you can. This will relax your body after a few breaths, but just as importantly, it requires your full concentration. Your mind is too focused on breathing to also focus on worries. Do this 10 times and you will feel much more relaxed. Yoga, martial arts, and meditation also teach great breathing skills.  When you get good at this, you can even do this in a chair during a test and nobody will know.
  • Put your body in a relaxed position.

Your body knows when you’re nervous. If you sit down to take a test and your legs are shaking, you are saying, “I want to run!” Remember, you can’t concentrate and run at the same time, so you are making it harder to take the test. Instead, take those deep breaths, lean back, and tell your body there is no emergency.

When you’re angry, the natural thing to do is stand up and face someone shoulder-to-shoulder and chest-to-chest. You do this without even thinking, but this subconsciously tells the other person that you’re angry and ready to fight. It also may prevent you from thinking clearly. Do the opposite of what you would do if you were really going to fight—sit down, take deep slow breaths, and tell your body there is no danger. Then use your brain to get out of the situation.

Point 6: Eat well.
Everyone knows good nutrition makes you healthier. Only some people realize that it also keeps you alert through the day and your mood steady. People who eat mostly junk food have highs and lows in their energy level, which harms their ability to reduce stress. Instead of eating greasy or sugary foods, eat more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains—they keep you focused for a longer time.  Go to  www.mypyramid.gov to learn more.

Point 7: Sleep well.
Most kids don’t get the sleep they need to grow and think clearly. Tired people can’t learn as well and can be impatient and irritable. Here are some ideas to improve your sleep.

  • Go to sleep about the same time every night.
  • Exercise 4 to 6 hours before bedtime. Your body falls asleep most easily when it has cooled down. If you exercise right before bed, you will be overheated and won’t sleep well. A hot shower 1 hour before bedtime also helps your body relax to fall asleep.
  • Use your bed only to sleep. Don’t solve your problems in bed. When you think about all the things that bother you, you have trouble falling asleep and wake up in the middle of the night to worry more. Instead, have another spot to think, like a worry chair. Give yourself plenty of time to think things through, make a list if you need to, and then set it aside! Go to bed to sleep.
  • Don’t do homework, watch television, read, or use the phone while in bed.

Part 3: Dealing with Emotions

Point 8: Take instant vacations.
Sometimes the best way to de-stress is to take your mind away to a more relaxing place.

  • Visualize. Have a favorite place where you can imagine yourself relaxing. The place should be beautiful and calm. When you’re stressed, sit down, lean back, take deep breaths, close your eyes, and imagine yourself in your calm place.
  • Take time out for yourself. Everyone deserves time for themselves —a bath or something that allows time to think and de-stress. Try a warm bath with your ears just underwater. Listen to yourself take deep, slow breaths. Take your pulse and count as your heart rate goes down.
  • Enjoy hobbies or creative art as an instant vacation.
  • Look at the beauty around you and get pleasure from the small things you may have stopped noticing.
  • Take mini-vacations. Sometimes we forget that the park around the corner is a great place to hang out. A walk outside can be a mini vacation if you choose to forget your worries.
  • Reading a good book is an escape from reality. You have to imagine the sights, sounds, and smells—you are somewhere else for a while.

Point 9: Release emotional tension.
Sometimes feelings become so overwhelming that we cram them all away in an imaginary box and think we’ll deal with them later. But later, there’s so much stuff in the box that there is too much to deal with. This can make your head feel as if it is spinning. Sometimes you get angry or frustrated without even knowing why. You just know there is too much stuff going on in your head. It's good to pick just one problem to work on and forget the rest for the moment. When we decide to deal with only one problem at a time, it’s much less scary to open the box.
Here are some ideas to release your thoughts or worries one at a time.

  • Creativity. People who have a way to express themselves don’t need to hold it inside. Creative outlets like art, music, poetry, singing, dance, and rap are powerful ways to let your feelings out.
  • Talking. Every young person deserves a responsible adult to talk to and some friends to trust. Hopefully, you can talk to your parents. If you do not want to tell your parents everything, make sure to find an adult who'll listen and whom you can ask for advice.
  • Journaling. Write it out!
  • Prayer. Many young people find prayer or meditation helpful.
  • Laughing or crying. Give yourself permission to feel your emotions fully.

Part 4:  Helping a little can make your world better . . . and help you feel better.

Point 10: Contribute.
Young people who work to make the world better have a sense of purpose, feel good about themselves, and handle their own problems better. It’s important to understand that you really can make a difference in other people’s lives. The role of teenagers is to recognize the mistakes adults have made and build a better world.


Now that you have read about the kind of things a person can do to reduce stress, you may be ready to create a plan for yourself. Just check off the ideas you think would work best for you. There are spaces for you to write down your own ideas.

My Personal Stress Plan

Part 1: Tackling the Problem

Point 1: Identify and address the problem.
When I have too many problems, I will work on just one at a time. For example, I am going to pick one huge problem and break it into smaller pieces.

  • I will seek advice from family members and learn from their experience how to better handle problems.
  • I will take big assignments and learn to make lists or timelines
  • I will work in teams so that I will learn that when people work well together they can do much more than if they each work alone.

Point 2: Avoid stress when possible.
I know that everyone has stress, but there are things that I could stay away from that really stress me out. I will

  • Avoid certain people, like ________________________ 
  • Avoid certain places, like  ________________________
  • Avoid certain things, like ________________________
  • Avoid certain memories that create pain for me, like   ________________________     

Point 3: Let some things go; so I can focus on others.
I realize that I waste some of my energy worrying about things I can’t fix. Here are some things that I will try to let go, so I can focus on the problems I can change.

  • _____________________________
  • _____________________________
  • _____________________________

I know I waste some of my energy when I take things personally that really have nothing to do with me. I am going to learn this lesson by remembering a time I did this and by choosing not to repeat that mistake.

Part 2: Taking Care of My Body

Point 4: The Power of Exercise.
I will do something that makes my body work hard for at least 20 minutes every other day – more is better. I know that strong bodies help people better deal with stress, and this will keep me in shape. The kinds of things I like to do include

  • _____________________________
  • _____________________________
  • _____________________________

I can commit to ________minutes of exercise a day. If I have trouble focusing in school, I will try exercising before school for ______minutes (recommended minimum 20) to see if it helps me concentrate better.

I know that a really hard physical workout will help me calm down when I am feeling most worried, stressed, or fearful. This is especially true when I can’t concentrate on my homework because it feels like too much. The kinds of things I might do include

  • _____________________________
  • _____________________________
  • _____________________________

Point 5: Active Relaxation.
I will try to teach my body to relax by using

  • Exercise that controls the body and releases tension like Tai Chi or boxing
  • Deep breathing
  • Yoga
  • Meditation
  • Warm, long baths or showers
  • Imagine I am someplace peaceful and relaxing. The place I could imagine myself being is  _______________________  

Point 6: Eat well.
I know that having a healthy body helps people deal with stress better. I have already agreed to exercise more. I understand that good nutrition also makes a difference in my health and how well I deal with stress. The changes I am ready to make include

  • Eating a good breakfast
  • Skipping fewer meals
  • Drinking fewer sodas and sugary drinks
  • Drinking more water
  • Eating smaller portions
  • Eating less greasy meals or snacks
  • Eating more fruits, vegetables, and whole grain foods
  • I will go to  www.mypyramid.gov to learn more
  • _____________________________
  • ______________________________        

Point 7: Sleep well.
I know that people who get a good night’s sleep do a better job of dealing with stress and do better in school. For me to get the sleep I need, I will try to go to bed at ____:____.

I will consider the following plan to help me get the best night’s rest.

  • Avoid caffeine at least 6 hours before bed.
  • Exercise 5-6 hours before bed.
  • Finish homework after exercise because I will be my calmest, clearest and most focused.
  • Take some time to relax or hang out after homework.
  • Shower or bathe 1 hour before bed.
  • Begin to dim the lights 30 minutes before bed
  • Let go of my emotional tension before bed in a place other than bed (see point 9). If I am really troubled, I will do this earlier in the evening.

I will use my bed only for sleeping. I will use another place to do some of the things I do in bed now. I will

  • Stop reading in bed.
  • Stop doing homework in bed.
  • Stop watching television in bed.
  • Stop talking to my friends or instant messaging in bed.
  • Stop worrying in bed.
  • Dock my cell phone in a charger that is not in my bedroom
  • Deal with the things that stress me out by having a time to let go of my  thoughts and feelings in a place other than my bed.

Part 3: Managing My Emotions

Point 8: Take instant vacations.
Everyone needs to be able to escape problems for a while by taking an instant vacation. I will

  • Read a book.
  • Take a mini vacation to a local park or recreation center
  • Imagine I am someplace peaceful and relaxing. The place I could imagine myself being is  ________________________           
  • Watch television.
  • Listen to music.
  • Play video games that are not violent or stressful.
  • Take a warm bath.
  • ____________________

Point 9: Release emotional tension.
I will try to let my worries go, rather than letting them build up inside.

  • I will talk to a friend I have chosen wisely because I know he or she will give good advice.
  • I will talk to my
    • Mother
    • Father
    • Teacher
    • or ______________________
  • I will ask my parents or a teacher to help me find a counselor to help me work out my problems.
  • I will pray to gain strength.
  • I will meditate.
  • I will write out my thoughts in a diary, journal, or blog.
  • I will let myself laugh more.
  • I will let myself cry more.
  • I will make lists to get organized.

When it seems that I have too many problems and they seem like more than I can handle, I will work on one at a time.

  • I will express myself through art.
  • I will express myself through music.
  • I will express myself through creative writing.
  • I will express myself through poetry.
  • I will express myself through rap.
  • ____________________________
  • ____________________________             

Part 4:  Helping a little can make your world better . . . and help you feel better

Point 10: Contribute.
I know that people who realize they are needed feel better about themselves because they can make a difference in other people’s lives. I plan to

  • Help a member of my family by _________________    
  • Volunteer in my community by __________________  
  • Help the environment (or animals) by _______________         

 

 

Remember that one of the best ways to be happy and successful is to manage stress well.

 


From Ginsburg KR, Jablow MM. Building Resilience in Children and Teens: Giving Kids Roots and Wings. 2nd ed. Elk Grove Village, IL: American Academy of Pediatrics; 2011

Please feel free to copy this handout or download from www.fosteringresilience.com or the American Academy of Pediatrics Web site for parents, www.HealthyChildren.org.