The busy time of year is just around the corner – prom, graduation, spring sports, and end-of-school banquets.
Jeremiah Terrell, a human development specialist at the University of Missouri, says this flurry of activity can be stressful, especially in rural communities where those activities can coincide with spring planting.
According to Terrell, now is the time to prioritize and create a plan for the whole family. Good time management is the key to reducing stress.
He says there are a number of tools that can be used to create calendars on computers. A paper calendar also works and allows family members to easily add to it.
Terrell says use the news reporter’s four Ws: who, what, when and where. List and color-code each family member’s activity to help identify who is where at what time. If you live in the countryside add travel time to the event.
This will help with meal planning and transportation, according to Terrell. Find a balance and don’t be afraid to seek help from family members, other parents, or neighbors who have children engaged in the same activities. Before you really get started, put some meals in the freezer or buy some take-out groceries.
Most importantly, take time to play, have fun, and reward. The end of the school year is a time to recognize the achievements of students, their parents, and others who have contributed to their success.
Terrell urges residents not to be afraid to seek help if the stress increases. He says MU offers various resources to help.
Through a three-year scholarship from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, MU Extension provides stress relief and suicide prevention services to farmers, ranchers, other farm workers, youth and farming families. This North Central Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network scholarship gives stressed Missourians access to the toll free helpline at (800) 447-1985.
