Stress Less Hack: Practice Small Acts of Random Kindness
A fun way to give back is through small, random acts of kindness. Each day, try to do something kind. Small things are fine. In fact, small acts of kindness are easier to do and because they’re easier to do you’ll do these acts more often. Drop some change into the guitar case of the street musician. Buy an extra donut and give one to a homeless person on the street. Write poems or draw a picture and leave these on park benches. Smile and say hello to people you pass on the sidewalk. Sit down on the bus bench and chat to an older person until the bus arrives. Pick flowers from your garden and place them on the tables in cafes you visit. Put out bird seed to attract birds to your neighbor’s garden. These small acts of random kindness benefit others, but they’re really for you. Stress Less: A Teen’s Guide to a Calm, Chill Life
Stress Less Hack: You’re Okay Just the Way You Are
For some people, it doesn’t feel natural to be kind to themselves. If that’s you, a good place to start is treating yourself the way you would treat others you care about. If a friend is feeling down, hurt, or upset, you might pat them on the back or hold their hand. You might say something kind or soothing to them, such as, “That’s really hard,” or “You’re okay just the way you are.” Next time you’re upset with yourself, close your eyes, hold one hand in the other, or rest an arm on your shoulder, or wrap your arms around yourself for a hug, and say softly to yourself, “You’re okay just the way you are.” Stress Less: A Teen’s Guide to a Calm, Chill Life
Stress Less Hack: Celebrate Yourself
When you think about it, birthday celebrations are really about celebrating yourself. There’s the cake, the gifts, and the friends and family, and it’s all there to celebrate you. But who says we can’t celebrate ourselves more than once a year? An easy way to celebrate yourself is to celebrate your successes (regardless of how small or unimportant you think they are). Once a day, ask yourself what you accomplished that day that you’re proud about, even a little, and spend a minute feeling pleased with yourself. Stress Less: A Teen’s Guide to a Calm, Chill Life
Stress Less Hack: Spend Time with the Good in Yourself
An easy way to build more self-confidence is to recognize and spend time with the good in yourself. Pick one good thing that you like about yourself. For example, you might like that you’re creative, or friendly, or athletic. Now, close your eyes and take a little time to take in this fact about yourself. But, watch for signs that you’re not taking it in. You might think: What about the things I don’t like about myself, or I’m not that way all the time? Stand up to yourself and softly say, It’s okay that I’m not this way all the time. That’s what it means to be human, or It’s okay that I have things about me that I don’t like. No human is perfect. Open yourself to being convinced of it. Repeat this process several times each day and extend this to other good things about you. Stress Less: A Teen’s Guide to a Calm, Chill Life
Stress Less Hack: Try Something New
Stress Less Hack: Routines make life more predictable and therefore less stressful. However, when you’re stuck in the same old routines, there’s not much room for excitement either. When you’re stuck in routines, you’re less likely to try new things. When you eat out, you might order the same thing. You might walk the same way to school each day. You might sit next to the same people and read the same kinds of books. Yes, routines are comfortable but when you’re stuck in routines you’re life begins to feel stagnant, boring, and not a lot of fun. If you crave a little excitement, joy, and energy, try a new experience every day. They don’t have to be big things. Changing the little things can add a bit of spice to your life. If you only watch horror shows, watch a rom-com one night. If you only eat chocolate ice cream, try a scoop of strawberry. If you only wear earth-tone colors, wear something a little flashy. If you only sit with your friends at lunch, invite another person to join you. Even if you don’t like any of these new experiences, you’ll enjoy the excitement of trying something new. Stress Less: A Teen’s Guide to a Calm, Chill Life
Stress Less Hack: Create a Gratitude Box
If you’re crafty, create a gratitude box. Decorate a shoebox, a cigar box, a coffee can, or even a paper bag. Then, every day, write down one thing you’re grateful for and drop it in the gratitude box. It doesn’t matter if you’re grateful for the same thing every day; write it down and drop it in. Whenever you’re feeling down or less than grateful, open the box and read a note or two. It’s an easy way to introduce a little perspective when you’re feeling stressed or unhappy. Stress Less: A Teen’s Guide to a Calm, Chill Life
Stress Less Hack: Walk in the Woods to Relax
Spending time in nature is a great way to keep your balance. Not only that, but getting outdoors is good for your mental and physical health. Japanese researchers have studied the benefits of “forest bathing,” which is a poetic way to say “a walk in the woods.” Time outdoors can decrease your blood pressure and stress hormone levels, reduce your anxiety, and improve your mood. Just two hours a week outside can help, even if it’s just lying on a blanket in the park, sitting on a bench under a beautiful tree, or making snow angels. In fact, it’s more about how you spend the time outside than what you do outside. Try to savor the outside experience with all your senses rather than just taking in nature’s beauty with your eyes. Sniff the air for the fragrance of honeysuckle along the fence. Listen for the sound of a squirrel scurrying up a tree. Touch the grass with the tips of your toes. Taste water from a clean running stream. Also, search for nature pop-ups: those little surprises that make time in nature exciting and joyful. A flower in bloom, a tightly wound fern fiddlehead, the flicker of light from a puddle, or a mound of snow. Stress Less: A Teen’s Guide to a Calm, Chill Life
Stress Less Hack: Hypnotize Yourself to Relax
Self-hypnosis is a great way to relax when you’re facing a stressful problem or challenge, and this is an easy self-hypnosis exercise. Set aside 30 minutes and sit in a comfortable chair in a quiet room. Now, consider an upcoming stressful challenge, such as doing well on an upcoming test. Next, select a phrase that is the opposite of what you’re worried might happen. For example, I’ll do okay on the test. Now, relax. Next, take several deep breaths and gently touch your thumb to your index finger while recalling a relaxing moment For example, after a long run or while lying on the beach in the sunshine. Then, say softly to yourself the phrase. For example, I’ll do okay on the test. Now relax. Next, take several deep breaths and touch your thumb to your middle finger as you remember a loving moment For example, a hug from your best friend or your pet nestling in your lap. Then, say softly to yourself, ‘I’ll do okay on the test.’ Now relax. Next, take several deep breaths and touch your thumb to your ring finger as you remember accepting the nicest compliment you’ve ever received. Then, say softly to yourself, ‘I’ll do okay on the test.’ Now relax. Next, take several deep breaths and touch your thumb to your little finger as you remember the most beautiful place you’ve ever been. Then, say softly to yourself, ‘I’ll do okay on the test.’ Now relax. Finish by resting in this beautiful place for several minutes. Stress Less: A Teen’s Guide to a Calm, Chill Life
Stress Less Hack: Bend and Breathe
Bend and breathe is another quick breathing technique. It’s a great way to clear your head, relax your body, and boost your energy. Try it when you first get out of bed in the morning: Stand and slowly bend forward from the waist with your knees slightly bent. Let your arms dangle close to the floor. Inhale slowly and deeply as you slowly roll your body up to a standing position, lifting your head last. Hold your breath for three seconds in this standing position. Exhale slowly as you return to the original position, bending forward from the waist. Stress Less: A Teen’s Guide to a Calm, Chill Life
Stress Less Hack: Climb Out of a Stressful Moment
As one stressful day leads to another, it may feel like you’re walking through a fog of stress and worry. Try this simple trick to climb out of a stressful moment to see things as they really are. Sit in a comfortable chair and close your eyes. Now, imagine your stress is like a dense, heavy fog that’s swirling around you. Take several deep breaths as you imagine standing and walking up a hill. With each step, softly say to yourself, relax and refresh, as you walk up the hill and the fog thins. Continue to imagine walking up the hill as the fog becomes thinner and thinner until you reach the top of the hill. Now, take a moment and look around. Below you is the fog of stress, churning and swirling. Before you are mountain tops, a bright blue sky, and a beautiful valley spreading out before you as far as you can see. Take several deep breaths as you softly say to yourself, relax and refresh. Finish by resting several minutes above the hustle and bustle of stress at your feet. Stress Less: A Teen’s Guide to a Calm, Chill Life