Reduce Stress
Understanding & Managing Stress
Stress is a normal part of life but learning how to manage it is an important part of taking care of ourselves. It’s about our health and strength, our overall wellness, and our relationships with ourselves and others.
From homework and tests to friendships, activities, sports, and responsibilities at home, there are many things that can make us feel stressed or overwhelmed.
The good news is that there are healthy ways to manage stress. Taking time to relax, refresh, and recharge can help us feel calmer, think more clearly, and handle challenges in healthy ways.
From homework and tests, to after-school activities and social events, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed at school. It's important that we learn how to address stress and take time to relax, refresh, and recharge. Below are nine strategies.
Nine ways to reduce stress
Simple Ways to Reduce Stress
Get Enough Sleep – A good night’s sleep helps your body and mind recharge.
Eat Healthy Foods – Regular, balanced meals can support your energy, mood, and focus.
Get Moving – Walk, exercise, play a sport, dance, or do another activity you enjoy.
Make Time for Things You Enjoy – Relax with hobbies, music, art, games, reading, or time outdoors.
Avoid Overscheduling – Leave room in your day to rest, recharge, and simply have downtime.
Try Something New – Visit a park, museum, restaurant, nature trail, or explore somewhere new in your community.
Ask for Help – Talk to a trusted adult, friend, teacher, counselor, or family member when things feel overwhelming.
Practice Healthy Coping Skills – Try deep breathing, mindfulness, grounding exercises, journaling, or other calming strategies that work for you.
Try Mindfulness- Slow down and focus on the present moment. Try a grounding exercise, meditation, deep breathing, or simply take a minute to notice what you see, hear, and feel around you.
Remember: You can't always control what causes stress—but you can build skills to help you manage it.