When your kid is stressed, when the pressure builds, when there is lots of chaos and disruption in their lives, meditation and relaxation can really help. Unfortunately, teenagers typically HATE strategies that have them sit quietly and not think; especially when they need it most. But, some take to simple meditation. Others like various guided relaxation and meditation practices. It gives them something to focus on. In this article, Sarah Beach talks about some of the benefits of meditation that included improved performance when students meditate before an exam, improved concentration and, of course, reduced anxiety, stress and depression.
If you are worried about your kid stressing or if you know that your kid is really hard on themselves, encourage them to try meditation or relaxation.
Self Compassion Meditation
This practice can be used any time of day or night. It is ideal for a kid who can’t keep from getting down on themselves for mistakes, failures or inadequacies. If you practice it in moments of relative calm, it becomes easier for you to experience the three parts of self-compassion—mindfulness, common humanity, and self-kindness—when you need them most. While it may be challenging to do this practice every time you face a stressful situation, an initial goal could be to try it at least once per week.
handouts-self-compassion-meditation
If this doesn’t work, there are some other techniques you can find on the other blogs in this series by searching for Stress Management
