Negative attitudes – Are they Contagious?
According to the American Psychology Association, teens are the most stressed out demographic in the U.S. (2014, Stress in America Survey). There certainly is an overload of digital information and social media, however, fold in academic pressure, athletic pressure, racial pressure…the list seems endless. And when you observe this in society, why is it completely normal?
The journal of Mindfulness (published in 2017) highlighted intervention success using mindfulness practices with the “simple-every-day-things” and then extended that to “larger-macro level-issues.” The goal of reducing stress for today’s teenager is pretty broad. Yet when tailoring it to an every day task, such as homework, small changes offered big gains. For example, a modern high school student doing homework has an internet browser open while watching a music video or movie in another tab. Or a classic middle school student often reads a book, in front of the television while having a phone on for text messaging, and another iPad nearby to video stream or live-chat with a friend. All at the same time! No wonder their brains are on overload.
Simple action-oriented adjustments point to building a routine (a simple practice) by reducing noise, reducing distractions, and turning off technology. Extend that to other practices: getting up at the same time each day, pick out clothes and pack lunches the night before, have a checklist, etc. The level and value of focus goes a long way with many benefits. Parents will start to see homework completed on time, increased attention span, reduction in stress, likelihood for more food intake (serve nutrient rich food/snacks for increased energy need). Again, start with a small task (homework) and then extend that to where resistance commonly creeps in like chores, extracurricular activities, and family pressure.
And what if its more complicated for your family? Some students are actually homeless, or come from homes with no lights and minimal food. Teachers at a West Baltimore school send distruptive students to a meditation room. Students (third graders) can stretch, do yoga, and practice deep breathing. Again, it takes practice to build up the mental ability to calm down when things meltdown. Like the flu and common cold, negative atttidues are contagious. It quick expands, causing angst not only in the class but also in the home. Teaching students to re-center is an important life skill (jump in place if you have to to get out the frustration, go for a long run, walk away from a bully to clear your head, and take a deep breath to full up oxygen in your lungs) and that skill will help them be more independent and more resilient because we all know that growing up has it’s own set of adult challenges. Practice take time. Help them navigate their distracting world, so they can be relaxed, stronger human beings in this world.
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