It’s the most wonderful time of year, with joyous thoughts of the holidays and decorating, buying just the right presents, sending holiday cards, and final exams for your teenager.
This time of year can be fun, but it can also be stressful for everyone in the family. We are running around, trying to get things done while balancing work and everyday life demands. Our teenagers are cramming for their final exams in hopes of maintaining their grades
No matter what college your student wants to attend, grades matter. Even if your teen has already been accepted to college, keeping good study habits will help them as they prepare for college.
Here are some tips to help you and your teenager relax during this time:
Get Sleep – We know sleep is important, yet we still tend to sacrifice it in order to get stuff done in time for the holidays. If your teenager is like mine, they will stay up watching TV or YouTube videos. For better sleep, set a time to turn off phones, TV, and other electronic devices each evening. Experts recommend 30 minutes of screen-free time prior to going to bed, so allowing 30 minutes of relaxing activities could improve sleep quality. Activities could be taking a shower, reading a book, or drinking a cup of tea. Aromatherapy is another relaxation-inducing helper. My teenager has a diffuser in his room that helps him fall asleep.
Be Organized – Just like we make to-do lists and plan out our decorations, it’s important for your teenager to stay organized. Make sure they are taking notes of class due dates. Have them clean out their backpack. I had my son clean out his during the Thanksgiving break. It’s amazing how much lighter his backpack is now. He also mentioned how much clearer his mind felt after decluttering.
Keep Reading – Even if your teenager says they don’t have homework, encourage them to read every day. Research shows that daily reading will help your student prepare for the work to come in college, improve standardized test scores, and help your child become a better writer. Being a better writer will definitely help in college and even with writing that essay for their college application. Seeing you read a book will encourage them.
Teaching your kids good habits now will help them deal with inevitable stress college can bring. Click here to read my article on college stress and how you can help your student.
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