As an adult, you may look back and remember simpler times with minimal worries. Teens often get stereotyped as being lazy or irresponsible, but it’s important to remember that they have struggles of their own.
Being a teenager is difficult. It’s a point in life when you have to figure out who you are and who you want to be with constant changes. There are social pressures, educational expectations, and even concerns about the future.
Whether your teen is already thinking about what to do after graduation or struggling with the idea of saying goodbye to their peers and family members, it’s important to help them cope with future transitions. With that in mind, let’s focus on the future worries your teen might be thinking about, and what you can do to help them get through.
1. Listen to Their Feelings
Again, teenagers are going through a lot. That’s especially true when they recognize they have some big changes coming up.
Everyone wants to feel heard and validated. One of the best things you can do as a parent is to listen to your teen’s feelings. Let them know it’s okay to feel those feelings, and do what you can to show empathy without judging them.
You might not fully understand what they’re going through. But they’ll rely on you to be their support system. That starts with a listening ear.
2. Keep Your Routines
Your teen might already have a busy schedule, but it’s more important than ever to maintain regular routines around the house.
Routines provide comfort and familiarity. When major life transitions are happening or are just around the corner, routines can help to ease the stress that comes with them.
Maintain your regular routines when it comes to morning activities, eating dinner together, and nighttime activities. You might be surprised by how much your teen starts to look forward to such things, as it can offer a sense of security when everything else seems different.
3. Encourage Self-Care
It’s not uncommon for teenagers to eat a lot of junk food, not get enough sleep, and spend too much time in front of their screens. Those might seem like stereotypes, but if you have a teen at home, you know some of those habits are real!
While you should absolutely let your teen “be a teen,” it’s also important to encourage a healthy lifestyle.
Make sure your teen is taking time to do something for themselves each day. Encourage them to stay active, read, journal, or even meditate. Teens that start self-care habits now are more likely to carry them into adulthood, making it easier for them to deal with stressful situations.
4. Give Them Choices
It’s not uncommon for teens to feel anxious about their future because they feel like they don’t have options or maybe there are too many options.
Maybe it’s always been “expected” that your teenager will go on a specific path. But maybe that’s not really what they want to do.
Ensure that your teenager knows their future is in their own hands. You’ll love and support their endeavors, no matter what. That can take a lot of weight off their shoulders. They’re more likely to cope in healthier ways with transitions they’re excited about.
5. Stay Positive
One of the worst things you can do is project your own worries onto your teen.
As a parent, it’s understandable to be worried about your teen’s future. You might be anxious for them, and want everything to be as smooth and stress-free as possible.
Unfortunately, those worries can impact your teenager more than you might realize.
Try to maintain a positive attitude about their future and find ways to relax and reassure yourself that it will work out. The more positive you are, the better your teenager will feel. While it might seem like they’re not always listening to you, they are. How you cope with their future transitions will have a big impact on how they handle things, too.
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If you’re struggling to connect with your teen or you’re concerned about a lack of communication in your household, consider trying family therapy. Contact us for more information or to set up an appointment with one of our highly skilled therapists. Serenity EFTC offers family therapy in Colorado.