7.MEH.2

What does this standard mean a child will know and be able to do?

7.MEH.2.1 Critique a variety of stress management techniques.
Because there are a variety of causes of stress, it is logical that a person would employ a variety of stress management techniques. Some of the strategies available are time management, exercise, meditation, muscular relaxation, minimizing or redefining stress, planning ahead and making a schedule, and prioritizing tasks.

Young people need to discover which stress management techniques work best for them or work best in certain situations. Students can consider if a particular method worked well for them. Practicing health behaviors can translate into healthy stress management. Examples of those behaviors are eating nutrient-dense foods, exercising, getting enough sleep, finding relaxation opportunities, and talking with others who are supportive. Ways to reduce stress are allowing extra time, planning ahead, starting on projects right away, and avoiding over-scheduling. One should completely avoid managing stress in ways that produce more stress: blaming others, spending more money than one has, over-eating, using alcohol or other drugs, or procrastination. The ability to critique how well a stress management strategy works is a skill that will serve one well into adulthood.
 * The student will be able to identify a variety of stress management strategies.
 * The student will determine which techniques worked well for him or her in the past.
 * The student will apply effective stress management to cope with stress in the future.

7.MEH.2.2 Design a stress management plan that is appropriate for the situation and individual traits and skills.
Stress management strategies may need to be “tailored” to the situation or specific strategies are more useful to some people than they are to others. If your mother is driving in traffic, she can count to ten, but would not be able to close her eyes to meditate. If a gi-normous project is due tomorrow, it may be too late to divide the project into smaller tasks. It would be appropriate to try to reduce stress related to a relationship problem by trying to use effective communication (“I” messages, for example).

The choice of appropriate stress management techniques depends on one’s personality and experience. Going for a run might work well for one person; progressive muscular relaxation would work better for someone else. One student might use her planner effectively to prioritize activities and responsibilities. Another might enjoy using Post-It notes on a calendar to manage the same big assignment. By being self-reflective, students can sort out what is effective for their personalities and for the stressors they experience.
 * The student will consider the stressor to determine the best approach to managing stress.
 * The student will resolve better ways of managing stress based on experience and personality.