Secret stress busters! Stress is all around, and nobody is immune. With all you have to deal with as a teen, it's a wonder you aren't a total stress ball 24/7! - Life

Girls' Life, Feb-March, 2003 by Raquel Singer-Klekin

Rocker Hallyday grabs acting kudos.

Friendship and popularity dilemmas, perplexing puberty issues, family fiascoes. A packed social calendar, mountains of homework, loads of extracurricular activities. Two tests, a pop quiz, an oral report on the anatomy of the atom. Stressed out much?

Face it, stress happens. Matter of fact, stress has become such a serious issue for girls that many are flocking to stress-busting spas and yoga classes in record numbers. The Girl Scouts now even offer a stress-buster badge!

Want to win your own battle against stress? Here are our seven secrets...

STRESS BUSTER #1

Get your zzzzz's pleaze. Experts agree that young teens need at least eight-and-a-half hours of shut-eye each night. Sleep is a great stress-buster and when you don't get enough, you are short-changing yourself. Many girls try to sneak in some extra Z's in the a.m. by hitting the snooze button a couple times. But can you brush your pearly whites, straighten your curls, search for socks and grab breakfast...in under 15 minutes? Plus all that hurrying increases your chance of leaving your book report behind or spacing on asking your mom for that $2O for your field trip. The bottom line? Sleep gives you the energy you need to focus and stay motivated all day. So make a promise to yourself to dive under those covers and start enjoying your eight-and-a-half hours every night.

STRESS-BUSTER #2

Hey, be nice to yourself! Ever find yourself on the "I can't do it/I'll never finish this/I'm no good at that" path? Time to get off it! Negative self-talk adds to stress. Would you tell your BFF she'll never get an A in English in a million years? No way! So why talk yourself down? If you can only focus on your looming fear of failure, it creates anxiety. Time to retrain your brain to expect success. Instead of, "I'll never finish this project on time," force yourself to think, "I can do this if I break it into small steps." Kicking your brain into a can-do mindset nips stress in the bud.

STRESS-BUSTER #3

Avoid pessimistic people. We all like to be kind to friends who are having tough times. But what about those who always forecast yucko weather even when it's sunny out? Incessant whiners, constant complainers, critical cohorts and grief-givers are serious potential sources of stress. A persistently pessimistic pal will dampen your optimism. So, minimize your exposure and learn to filter out her negative chit-chat. Next time she says, "No way will that ever work," smile and say, "Thanks for your opinion." Show her the positive side of the sitch, or change the subject. Life is a lot less stressful when you stay on the positive path--despite the party poopers.

STRESS-BUSTER #4

Don't sweat the small stuff. Nobody's perfect, OK? So give yourself a break. Don't stress over stuff you can't control. Take that miniscule zit no one but you notices or the fact that you're wearing the same jeans you had on yesterday. Yes, zits and dirty laundry can be bummers but, in the grand scheme of things, no real biggies. If you don't keep things in perspective, pesky details can snowball into major sources of stress. When you feel overwhelmed by little things, ask yourself, honestly, is what you are stressing over really such a big deal? Chances are you can just slap on some coverup, throw on a cute top and move on to the important stuff--like acing that second-period quiz.

STRESS BUSTER #5

Get movin' and groovin'. Exercise is excellent for your heart, soul, body and mind. It's also a fabulous stress buster!

When you work out, your body produces natural chemicals called endorphins that lift your mood and minimize stress. If you're not a regular on the soccer field or basketball court, get moving. Sweating out stress doesn't require a membership to a swanky gym. Throw on your sneaks, blast some tunes, move those muscles, and get your heart pumping--jump rope, jog with Fido, do sit-ups, or pop in a tae bo DVD. And use phys ed to your advantage, rather than volunteering to keep score, get in the game!

STRESS BUSTER #6

Just say no. Are your days jam-packed with dress rehearsals, homework, get-togethers, youth group meetings, SGA, volleyball practice and family dinners? As awesome as it is to be the girl who does it all, spreading yourself too thin will only leave you overstressed and underproductive. How to deal? You only need to remember the benefits of one word: "No." By taking control of how you spend your time, you won't feel like you're being pushed and pulled in a million different directions. Figure out the difference between what's a must-do, what's a want-to-do, and what activities you're doing out of guilt or pressure. Every girl needs time to chill, IM, read Harry Potter, or whatever. When planning your schedule, make sure you leave time for yourself so you can just breathe! When a bud calls to see if you'll head up the Spring Fling committee, tell her you're flattered, but "No," you have a full plate right now.

STRESS-BUSTER #7

Spiff up your space. The contents of your purse, backpack, desk drawers and binder are strewn all around as you madly search for that little piece of paper with your crush's digits? You promised you'd call him tonight. As you root through piles of papers and unmarked file folders, your heart races and your palms sweat. As papers fly, your stress soars. Stop the madness! Fact: Mess results in stress. So aside from pleasing Mom and deterring furry critters from nesting in your room, a clean, organized space makes for a less stressed you. So dedicate a little time once a week to getting your space in tip-top shape. Designate a logical, easily accessible spot for everything. Attack those piles of paper, your desk, your closet and your bureau. If you don't use it or haven't worn it within the past year, get rid of it! Want more tips? Go to www.girlslife.com to check out our D/J '03 GL article "Stop the Slop" for a step-by-step guide to organizing your room.