A survey amongst adolescents showed that school and study are causing the highest stress for adolescents. I was aware that the pressure is high for some, but this number was shocking. In this particular research a distinction was made between the practical schoolwork and exams (55% of students marked that as their highest stressor) and the emotional pressure of facing expectations and fear of failure (15% marked that as their main stressor).
If we want children to be educated, we ideally want them to enjoy the process, so they can continue during their life to study and grow their knowledge base and improve their chances on great and fulfilling careers, without turning into nervous wracks.
The focus on following a solid curriculum does not allow for extra-curricular activities, that teaches youngsters life skills that are actually crucial if they want to perform and achieve in the regular curriculum.
The narrow mindedness within the current school systems in lots of countries, is not helping the next generation.
I would like my children to be all-rounders, having developed a range of skills that incorporate academic knowledge, but certainly social skill and life skill on how to manage themselves and keep themselves safe and sound.
For teenagers the immediate effects of stress are loss of sleep, concentration problems, mood swings, self-esteem issues, low energy levels, headaches, digestive problems amongst others. Immediate consequences are lower grades and academic underachievement.
As a result of stress they are not able to study properly: “When I start my homework I can only think of the upcoming test and it makes my stomach cramp. I then can only think of my stomach, so in the end I don’t learn anything”, as 14 year old Tina told me. 
Another students Anthony, aged 20, had big issues with exams. “I prepare myself well. I even enjoy the studying, but when it comes to performing at an exam I always underachieve. When I start reading the questions, it is as if my knowledge disappears and I can’t think anymore. I just go totally blank. And it gets worse and worse.”
Teaching this generation to deal with stress will give them a skill for life.
Dr Mariette Jansen designed a workshop for teenagers, that addresses the development of dealing differently with stress.
They learned different techniques to apply in different situations. For instance, before even starting the homework, Tina does a brief concentration exercise. This takes only 3 minutes of her time, “and it makes me feel really calm. I just focus on my work and don’t think about the test at all.”
Anthony prepares himself for an exam beforehand. He is doing breathing exercises and knows how to talk himself into the right frame of mind. “I am now even starting to enjoy exams, how unexpected is that!”
These adolescents have learned to work differently with their stress.
Can you think of a better addition to their education?
To read more about the workshop and to book, click here,
