Stressed Much

Students have always had many reasons to feel overwhelmed or stressed out. Enter 2020 and these struggles are even more commonplace. According to this article by 5280.com, “in Colorado, the state’s teen suicide rate jumped by 58 percent between 2016 and 2019.” A report from the attorney general credits fear of academic failings as a key risk factor. Sadly, many of us have an overwhelming sense of feeling out of control these days and that is bound to affect our students as well. How can we ground ourselves when dealing with these feelings and emotions? Here a few simple suggestions.

Center yourself. Close your eyes, take a deep breath. Start to wiggle your toes and visualize any stress or tension leaving that area of your body. Slowly move up your body and continue this exercise all the way to the top of your head. Continue to breathe deeply and release any tension along the way.

Consider the negative thoughts that are filling your mind and focus on finding the positive in each situation. There is an opportunity in every stressful situation to grow and we can gain so much strength from that. Feeling left out from a social event? Use the time to reach out to an old friend and reconnect or organize your room or maybe read that book you’ve been hearing great things about. Find gratitude in the ability to do something else that you’ve been wanting to do instead.

Talk it out. Find a trusted confidant- maybe a parent, a friend or a teacher and lay out what is bothering you. Talk is therapeutic and can be a great stress reliever. Hearing someone else’s perspective on your problem could help you come up with a manageable solution quicker.

Parents, do not hesitate to reach out and connect with your child if you can see that they are struggling. Let them know there is no shame in the way that they are feeling and you are there for them however they may need you. Click here to read more about the signs of stress in your teenager and helpful tips to teach them how to manage their stress.

More helpful resources:

Coloradocrisisservices.org

Americanpsychologicalassociation.org

Childrenscolorado.org for teen suicide prevention

Tree Planting Tips

It might feel like most people plant their trees during the spring, but there are many advantages to planting trees in the fall. Instead of energy being spent on growing foliage, your tree will spend its energy on root establishment which causes less stress on the tree. Also, the soil has been warmed up all spring and summer long which makes it easier for you to plant and also less work for the tree. Warmer soil allows the tree to succesfully establish roots and gain nutrients before going dormant in the winter.

Here are some tips for planting your tree just right.

  • Find a good location- does it need shade? Sun? Would it prefer more moist or more dry soil?
  • Give it room to grow- dig a hole twice as wide and deep as the size of the pot.
  • Remove the sapling- loosen the edges of the container and gently slide the tree out. Break apart the roots with your hands.
  • Put the tree in position- the root flare (the place where the roots start to spread out from the trunk), should be flush with the soil line. Add a mixture of compost and soil to reach that height. Then place the tree in the hole, making sure it’s straight, and backfill. Lightly tap on the soil to remove air pockets.
  • Mulch and hydrate- give your newly planted tree some water. Then top with a couple inches of mulch, leaving several inches of the space right around the trunk bare (to prevent rot). For the first few months, leave a hose running directly on the spot for about 10 minutes once a week.

If beautiful fall foliage is what you’re dreaming of in your own yard, then consider planting one of these trees.

  • Sugar Maple- brilliant bright orange-red foliage. New York, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Vermont all claim it as their state tree.
  • Quaking Aspen- stunning yellow fall color.
  • Northern Red Oak- dark red foliage comes late August.