In Stressful Times, Gratitude Builds Resilience
There is no denying that this is a stressful time we are living in. How have the past four months impacted our teenagers? Parents I have spoken with have shared concerns about signs of depression, increased moodiness, and even an increase in risk taking behaviors.
For me, on March 13th of 2020, it felt as though my life had instantly turned upside down. The governor of New Hampshire declared a state of emergency do the COVID-19 virus. Suddenly teens (and adults) had to adapt to some significant changes. Social distancing abruptly became the new normal. The effect on teenagers has been profound and concerning.
Regardless of how your child learns, be it public, private, or homeschool, the impact of social distancing cannot be understated. Teenagers tend to be very social by nature, and without proximity to their peers they can experience a sense of loss. Combine that with the fear of becoming sick, concerns for peers and loved ones with compromised immune systems, and worries about their parents’ livelihoods, and our teens can easily become overwhelmed.
From my perspective, just when things seemed to be looking up (businesses had begun to re-open, and parents and educators alike developed creative and meaningful structures for social engagement), the rug was yanked out from beneath us again. Violence and unrest grabbed our nation and resounded throughout the entire world, as we were jolted into awareness of the devastating impact of racism. Please keep reading. This is not a political rant, but recognition, encouragement, and support, for families, teenagers, and children who are unequivocally living in a stressful world.
So, what can we do?
One way we can combat anxiety, worry, and fear is to establish habits or structures for expressing gratitude. Research has shown that gratitude fosters happiness and resilience. I have worked with gratitude in my own life and have taught gratitude exercises to my students. Gratitude, in its beautiful simplicity, is an expression of gratitude (private or public) for the things we are grateful for. As parents, caregivers, and educators, gratitude habits are just as important for us as they are for our teens.
Daily habits can include:
Thinking of 5 things each day and saying them out loud to someone or to yourself
Sharing gratitude over dinner or another family time
Keeping a gratitude journal
Meditating on, or thinking about, gratitude
Activities involving more time:
Make a gratitude poster or PowerPoint
Any kind of art form expressing gratitude:
Writing
Poetry
Drawing
Painting
Sculpting
Singing/making music
Dancing
Expressions of gratitude to others:
Notes or emails
Conversations
Doing nice things for the other person
Link for more information about the feelings we are experiencing:
Link for more information about how Covid-19 impacts teens.
Links to how we can help our teens:
