Try not to get stressed out over stuff. Stress isn’t cool. It makes you tired, messes up your sleep, and can make you sick. Stress can also make you forget things and cause you to become frustrated over silly things.  

There are so many things to think about these days: all that homework, meeting new friends, lots of after school activities, studying for tests…

Stress is how your body responds when you’re worried or uneasy about something. If something is stressing you out, talk to your parents to figure out how you can make things better. A little bit of stress, like how you might feel the night before a big test, can help you to focus and study harder. But, too much stress isn’t good for you. It can lead to headaches and stomach aches and can mess up your sleep and appetite.

There are some things you can do to minimize stress:

Be Active – physical activity is a great way to deal with stress. It will help you to calm down and improve your concentration. Try a quick, 10 minute walk for starters.

Eat Smart – eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, drinking lots of water, and cutting back on those junk foods can help your body to deal with stress more effectively. When your body gets the nutrients it needs, it works better. Smart eating will also help you to sleep well and be more active.

Sleep Well – make sure you get 10-11 hours of sleep every night. Sleep is when your body gets some well deserved rest, and it give a chance to get some helps you to reenergize, learn better, and  

Think positive – work hard and believe in yourself. If you think positive, you’ll find success more often and minimize stress.  

Have fun!– it’s important to have time to have fun everyday. Play with friends, have a few laughs, read a book, listen to music, draw – whatever is fun for you.

Stretch out and take a deep breath – when you feel like you need a little break or just feeling a little overwhelmed, get up and stretch out. Close your eyes, take a deep breath nice and slowly, counting to four in your head. Then, breathe out slowly, once again counting to four in your head. This will help you to clear your mind, relax, and refocus.