High school is kind of a rotten time for executive functioning to get even harder.
Family situations like health challenges.
Shifting friend groups and social situations.
Navigating the college process.
InErasing the Finish Line, Homayoun suggests the following tips for helping kids cope with uncertainty.
Start by asking, Are you doing the best you could with what youve got right now?
Hopefully acknowledging what they are doing well with the resources available will ease stress about the rest.
Empower them to build autonomy around daily routines and habits to emphasize whats in their control.
They can deal with overwhelm by processing their worries.
What stories are you creating for yourself about this worry?
What are the what if scenarios running through your mind?
Is this arealisticthing to be afraid of?
How likely is it to actually happen?
What is the root cause of this fear or stress?
What can you control?
Who can you reach out to for support?
What other resources might help?
Homayoun writes that fear is self-protective, and fearlessness is not the goal.
Remind teens that asking for help is always an option.
Community building, not rugged individualism, should be our new goal, she writes.
Help teens recognize their own strengths and know when its a good opportunity to tap into someone elses expertise.
Establish, create, or redefine routines
Who can even keep up with a teens activities?
Between school, extracurriculars, and social events, teens schedules are constantly evolving with the seasons.
Help them feel grounded through the shifting stages of high school by creating routines.
Remind them that routines should be flexible to adjust to new schedules.
If they are feeling overwhelmed with activities, modifying their daily routine may help them feel more in control.
Homayoun instead suggests encouraging kids to sample activities and broaden their exposure to different interests.
They can use their system for school, activities, college admissions, and job hunting.
Encourage them to establish regular morning and evening routines with time to relax and reset.
Promote good sleep habits and hydration.
Help teens identify multiple trusted adults they can turn to for help.
