Learning to deal with the stresses of life

Let's go back in time a little, by about 10 years.

Picture yourself, are there things you were worried or stressing over? If the answer is yes, bring yourself back to the present. Are those things that you were stressing over then still something you'd consider a big deal now? Was it even worth the amount of stress you put into it?

We're people, it's only natural that we worry and stress over things. In many cases, we realize that those things weren't as big as they seemed at the time.

We usually learn this after the fact; when we're looking back on life. Sometimes we look back laughing at what we used to consider stressful. Other times we wish we were back in that time, when things were so much easier.

Let's use high school grades as an example. You've just studied for hours for your biology test and when the marks finally come back, you realize you only got a 48 per cent mark. Not only are you upset at the horrible mark, but you've also been very worried about it before, spending hours preparing yourself. Sure, at the time, it seems like a real let down, but why stress over it? When you look back on your life in the future, that 48 per cent probably won't come to mind.

You'll realize later in life that worse things than failing a test do happen. There will be things later that have reason for the stress you give them.

Here's another example that some high school students may argue. Is dating the popular high school football player or cheerleader really as great as it seems? It doesn't sound like it, but as teens, we're all striving for something; usually along the lines of friends or popularity. Dating anyone with a big reputation is a huge accomplishment.

Think about it though, when you look back on your life 10 years later, is that still going to be the greatest accomplishment? Probably not. As you get older, you may also become successful and have more accomplishments. You'll find the true meaning in what an accomplishment is, and realize that earlier triumphs often didn't deserve the amount of attention received. You'll probably decide all that stressing over fitting in wasn't worth it either. When you get older, you find what really makes you happy. In most cases, it's not popularity.

According to John Kenwell, a guidance counsellor at Innisdale Secondary School, it isn't unusual for students to be stressed. With so many stressors in a teenager's life, sometimes it's hard not to be. But there are many things that can be prevented; teens just need to recognize what those items are. His tips for staying stress-free include getting good sleep, exercise, having a proper diet and talking to trusted friends and family.

Even as a teen, he found life stressful. Not unlike most other teens, self-esteem and new responsibility were common culprits. As he grew older, he had less stress on self-esteem and focused on more important things.

People change, what they stress over will too. Stress at one time in your life may not matter during the next. Before focusing on something potentially small, just answer one question; will this matter 10 years from now?