Magdalena

Nefeli

Lukas

Mario

Kylie

How I Combat Stress

Read a magazine article about how different people handle stress and put down 10 questions to the text.

Like every 15-year-old, I often feel under pressure about all sorts of thing. I tend to be dissatisfied with my weight when I compare myself with girls who are taller and slimmer than me, but my mum points out that I am no different from the majority of my friends, who are really just as plump as I am. Another problem is schoolwork, and the end of term is a time when I get especially anxious because of exams. I have developed a range of strategies for periods when I have a lot to do and get really worked up. One of them is making a list of all the things that I have to get done, on order of importance. That way, I can plan my time better.

I recently realized that my stress and anxiety is due to the absence of direction in my life. For me, schooldays were a time when I misbehaved and fooled about. I wasn’t the brightest pupil around and found most lessons very demanding. Sport was the only thing I was good at. This means that I now do not have the qualifications that I need to get a good job. So I have to set myself some goals and enroll at a college where I will be attending evening courses for adults next term. I hope this will give me the confidence that I lack, and better job prospects.

Being 16, my biggest cause of anxiety and stress is my future. I sometimes feel I shall never satisfy my parents, whose own professional success means that they expect me to do well in life. The only person who really understands me is my brother, and when we are together, we joke and talk about anything that makes us forget about our responsibilities. I have also joined a sports club, where I work out twice a week, and that has made a difference. After I have been to the gym, I find I am physically tired, but I have the mental energy to face the problems that seemed impossible to me earlier on.

While I am aware that being overweight is a health risk, I don’t get worried about my excess kilos or my appearance. Instead of just worrying about being fat, I go to keep fit classes, which is marvelous for reducing stress. Being active is not only good for losing weight but is also good for the circulation. I am not a fanatical weight-watcher, although I try to keep to a balanced diet that includes plenty of fruit, vegetables, whole grain, bread and milk. I am not like those health freakswho tear around health food stores examining the labels on food products to see how many calories that contain. I just use my common sense. It amazes mo more people do not adopt a similar attitude.

I have a husband, for children, and a full-time job, which is a very good reason why I cannot call my time my own. There is always someone who wants something, or some job that needs doing. At the times when I can’t cope any more, I sit or lie down and just close my eyes and think of somewhere quiet and relaxing – a warm, sandy beach, a grassy meadow or even the local park. Afterwards, I have a wonderful sense of relief and the things that I thought were urgent are not so important any more. Just a few minutes of this makes all the difference.

Дата добавления: 2014-12-29