We all feel stressed from time to time, but if it starts to feel a little too much to deal with, there are some simple solutions that you can try at home that might help. Here are some of our favourite ways to manage stress and make us feel happier again.

Music

Music can quiet your mind and relax you. It can make you feel better while releasing the stress of the day.

Here, write down 5 songs that make you want to move! Whether it’s a song that reminds you of fun times with friends, or reminds you of a holiday, or just makes you feel happy. Jot them down.

1. ___________

2. ___________

3. ___________

4. ___________

5. ___________

MEDITATE

Have you ever meditated? It doesn’t need to take long. Just five minutes a day can help to give you a bit of a head space when things are getting a bit much, and to help the noisy thoughts in your head start to settle down.

TOP TIPS

- Find just 5 minutes each day. It doesn’t matter when, just try to make it part of your daily routine. Try 5 minutes before you go to school, or 5 minutes once your homework is done. If you can make it part of your everyday routine, there is more chance that you’ll stick to it. - Look for a quiet space to meditate. You don’t need anything fancy; no special mats or special lighting. Just a place that is quiet. If your house is busy, use headphones to create a quieter space. There are apps with easy access to tons of meditations that can help you to control your stress and manage your emotions. Look up Headspace for Kids, Smiling Mind, Calm or the Insight Timer, and see which one you like the sound of the most.- Focus on your breath. It’s easy when you first start out and you have other things going on, to let your mind wander elsewhere. But, focusing on your breath, breathing in through your nose and out through your mouth, will really help you to calm your mind and focus on the sounds of your meditation.

THE STRESS BUSTER - THINGS TO DO WHEN YOU’RE FEELING STRESSED

Now add them to your playlist and have a little dance when you’re feeling stressed!

WRITE IT DOWN

Journaling is a great way to express your thoughts. You don’t need to write much. Get yourself a notepad and start to fill it with drawings, words that feel meaningful or cut things out of magazines to express how you’re feeling.

Alternatively, you can use this space to write down your thoughts or doodle what’s in your head.

Get it out of your head and onto paper...

THE STRESS BUSTER - THINGS TO DO WHEN YOU’RE FEELING STRESSED

Complete the following sentences:

Today I feel…

I feel like this because…

My favourite person to talk to when I’m sad is…

I always feel happy when…

My favourite part of today is…

What I’m most looking forward to tomorrow is…

To help myself feel better, I will…

Now draw a picture to describe how you’re feeling:

THE STRESS BUSTER - THINGS TO DO WHEN YOU’RE FEELING STRESSED

GET CREATIVE

Did you know that colouring in has been proven to help reduce the feelings of stress and anxiety? Colour in the picture below and see how this makes you feel.

THE STRESS BUSTER - THINGS TO DO WHEN YOU’RE FEELING STRESSED