How to Calm Down When You Are Overwhelmed

Let’s face it, we all get overwhelmed from time to time.  As adults, it usually stems from our inability to say “no” to certain obligations.  With back to school upon us, our schedules are about to get busy again {or maybe still}, running kids here and there, but what about the kids in all of those activities?  How do we teach them to manage their stresses?  Seriously, is it just me, or is being a kid a lot harder than it used to be?   It can’t just be me, because lately, I’ve noticed a lot more attention on kids and stress.

If your kiddos are feeling the pressure, here are a couple of ways to help them calm down when they are feeling overwhelmed:

1. Teach them how to weed out a couple of activities.  They may love soccer, piano, student council, advanced classes, etc., but if it is taking up all of their evenings and leaving no down time, they may start to feel overwhelmed before they are even consciously aware.  Learning to let some activities go now is a skill that will serve them well throughout their life.  I think as adults, we call it prioritizing.
2. Teach them to take deep breaths.  When stress strikes, we aren’t always in a place to limit our obligations.  Sometimes teachers assign something big on the same day as a big game or whatever.  Deep breaths help to at least limit the physical manifestation of stress.
3. One thing at a time.  No matter how incredible we are, we can only do one thing at a time.  Teach kids that they can only tackle one thing at a time on their to-do list.  Although it seems too long to get everything done, checking off one thing at a time will eventually get the job done.
4. Make health a priority.  Healthy eating and exercise makes dealing with the demands of life a lot easier.  Stress can be a real strain on the immune system, a weakened body will eventually succumb to illness.
5. Schedule in alone/down time.  Having NOTHING to do is priceless when your kiddo is over-scheduled and overwhelmed.  Quiet, alone time allows your kiddo to shut off some of their obligations for a minute.
6. Teach them to walk away when the answer isn’t obvious.  Social pressures can be super overwhelming.  The “right” response isn’t always obvious.  Walking away and putting some space and time between the problem gives your kids a chance to consider potential solutions.
7. Reconnect with nature.  If you follow this site for my gardening, you probably already totally get this one, but kids are so technologically savvy, they have forgotten the importance of reconnecting with the out of doors.   A walk, fishing, hiking, shooting hoops in the driveway allow kids to soak up some essential vitamin D, get fresh air, and satisfy their need for exercise.

Have your kids experienced stress in some way?

How did you teach them to manage it?  How do you manage your own stress?

~Mavis