Let Us Help You Manage Back to School Stress!
We all know when it is that time of year again, right? School stress gets us all. Heading back to school has it’s ups and downs, but certainly produces back to school stress. Stress management skills are needed once again. It seems summer has just slipped away, and now relationships in many areas of our life are going to be put to the test from the early morning light right up to that last waking moment late at night.
Every year around this time our counseling professionals get many calls from families in crisis, marriages in need of counseling, and relationships that need therapy. If you know you need help now, please call us today at 859-338-0466 or Contact Us
now. We love to help.
What causes all this stress?
Shorter Days-Fall is coming, and our bodies begin to feel it. This year, we have had unseasonably cool weather early. Our bodies react as if fall is already here. That means increased eating, sleeping, and more effort to stay awake, keep energy, and be productive.
Mandated Structure-School and work collide. Children and adults are quickly changing routines, wake and sleep times, school homework, after school activities, and many other conflicts of schedule, wants, needs, and energy. School requires more mental energy from all of us.
Change in Sleep Patterns and Circadian Rhythms
affect us all. Back to school stress comes from not getting enough rest, but also from changes in how our bodies respond to climate, stress demands, wake up times, and many other factors.
Limited Resources with maximum demands sounds like a setup for too much family stress, right? It can be, but don’t let it. Here are a few tips to lower your stress as a unit and to maximize your potential to enjoy your family life and the people you love.
1. Stick to regular schedules regarding bedtimes and wake up times prior to school starting. Start the schedule at least a week ahead so everyone is used to the new times. The elements of the new schedule will still be new and take some adjustment, but everyone won’t be nearly as tired and cranky.
2. Keep the same wake up times on the weekend. Everyone wants to stay up later and enjoy more of the day, but if you sleep in on the weekend, chances are getting up on Monday will not produce your best results. Kids do better when they wake up at the same time. They might get a little less sleep, but they will wake up on time come Monday morning.
3. Skip the more caffeine problem. It will cause your sleep patterns problems, encouraging you to drink more and more, only to let you down later. Caffeine leads to anxiety, grouchiness, and dependence. Better to get moving, exercising 3-5 times a week for at least 40 minutes each time. When you feel tired, get going. It works quickly and does not produce the negative effects of caffeine.
4. One of the most important factors is to make commitments to activities, sports, work, social outlets, or plans than you can reasonably do while maintaining a balance in your family’s lives. Overdoing it is the number one reason people get stressed. Think your plans through, take your time, say no more, and give your family a chance to rest and enjoy down time.
5. Schedule time for married or relationship time in your life. Intimacy requires calm, private, uninterrupted time with people you love. Getting one on one with that person is the ultimate relationship builder, stress reducer, and family enhancer. You have a baseball schedule, school and work schedules, and appointments at the Dr., vet, and auto shop, right? Please, schedule time for love and intimacy. It pays off!
Our office provides family counseling and therapy and marriage counseling and therapy. We provide counseling for children and adolescents. Our professionals care. If you need help, please call us 859-338-0466 or Contact Us
today.
At our office, we wish you the best of luck with the return to school this year. Most of us are right there in it with you! Thank you for visiting our website.
Here are some helpful links to assist you in managing stress and specifically helping with back to school stress.
http://www.schoolfamily.com/school-family-articles/article/10799-ease-back-to-school-stress
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/moms-hilarious-comics-sum-up-back-to-school-season_n_5b800997e4b072951512480b
