January 2020 – Secondary School E-Bits
For Educators
Teachers Have Stress Too
Teaching and guiding students on how to identify and manage stress is not only done through the curriculum but is something, as teachers, you do every day. To be an effective role model for students it is essential for teachers to reduce and manage their own stress.
Tips for reducing your own stress:
- Take a break: take time for yourself and incorporate positive stress management techniques
- Shift your perspective: keep a positive attitude and realize that you cannot control everything in the classroom
- Get enough sleep
- Prioritize to avoid feeling overwhelmed
- Eat well: you need fuel for energy to deal with life’s challenges
- Exercise regularly: endorphin production following physical activity makes this a great stress management strategy. Being outside in nature is an even better choice!
- Write down three thing you are thankful for each week, even if you find it hard
- Create a strong support system
For Families
STRESS You and Your Teen
In today’s world many families are experiencing high amounts of stress – and that includes our kids and teens.
How can you, as a parent, help your child/teen navigate stress?
- Tune into your own stress: how you deal with your own stress is linked to how you help teens, how they experience stress, and how they learn to cope with their stress
- Maintain your parent-child relationship: any positive influence you want to have on your teen depends on a good relationship
- Recognize the signs of stress: symptoms of stress include angry outbursts, moodiness, irritability, sadness, anxiety or panic, headaches, upset stomach and difficulty sleeping
- Talk about stress, help with problem solving and provide practical support
- Provide a healthy home base: a healthy diet, enough sleep, physical activity and the time and space to relax are the basic tools for coping with stress
For more information see: