BONUS! Tips to relieve stress

Gretchen Williams had a lot of ideas for how to manage your stress in her article on page 16 of this month's ec. But if you'd like MORE ideas, here are 5 more suggestions Gretchen saved just for the ec magazine blog.

1. Do one thing.
Procrastinating creates, rather than alleviates, stress. Take a second and do one thing you have been putting off. You’ll feel so much better.

2. I Get By . . .
 . . . with a little help from my friends, or so The Beatles’ song goes. Spending time with friends gives you a chance to laugh, to share your worries, and to realize you are not alone.

3. Have an outlet
Listening to or playing music is a great way to relax. Some people use other pursuits such as art, writing, gardening, or photography to de-stress.

4. Pick and choose
You have so many options in front of you in terms of activities. Instead of doing everything, pick a few things you really love, and let the others go. There’s a time and season for everything.

5. Be realistic
Sometimes our biggest stressor is ourselves. Are your expectations for yourself too high? Be realistic about your capabilities and just do the best you can.





Interested in reading more of Gretchen's suggestions? Check out "Stressed Out" on page 16 of the November 2010 issue of ec.

Stress: Is it real?

Over and over, teens have told the ec staff that they're overwhelmed by life. We really do want to know what it is that's causing you all this anxiety. Is it relationships (friendships and/or dating)? Academic stuff? College prep? Fears? Your family? Church? We really do want to know and this is your last chance to tell us. Let us know in the comments on this blog. Or post it on the discussion board at the ec group page on Facebook or ec's fanpage. Or, if all else fails and you'd rather just share your stresses with me, e-mail me. This is a way for you to shape the magazine, since your input will help us write an article for the December 2008 issue of ec!