5 Natural Stress Relief Techniques for Students (Back-to-School Anxiety Relief)
Last Updated August 2026 by Kodia Byers | Originally written by Guest Blogger Kathleen Kirk, Certified Healing Touch Practitioner
It’s “Back to School” time, and for many families, that may mean more stress. I often work with students dealing with general stress, test anxiety, and sports injuries. There are many natural ways adolescents can combat stress, and they can all be done at home when needed.
I compiled a list of my top 5 tips and techniques to help not only students, but their parents as well.
1. Breathe
I know everyone talks about this, but it is very effective. This doesn’t have to be on a yoga mat for 30 minutes (although that would be great), but can be as simple as a deep breath at a stop sign. Always be present when driving, but I love the reminder that a stop sign offers, telling us to stop and take a breath. I breathe in for four counts (S-T-O-P) and exhale for four. If I was just cut off in traffic, my exhale may be through my mouth and more forceful.
2. Try Grounding (Also Called Earthing)
Go outside and put your bare feet in the grass, or lean up against a tree. Our bodies are magnets, and they get recharged with the earth. Unfortunately, we spend a lot of time indoors, or when we are out, in shoes with rubber bottoms. Try reconnecting your body with the earth for five minutes and see what you notice. When I am feeling “keyed up” or overwhelmed, I go outside barefoot, lean up against a tree, and breathe. I imagine everything just draining from me and into the earth.
3. Use Water to Cleanse and Recharge
Water cleanses and recharges us. Have you ever been around someone that drains you? Go wash your hands. We may not see the toxic energy, but it’s there. Use cold water and wash your hands with soap. As you are rinsing, take your right hand to your left elbow and brush it down towards the sink. Repeat with the left hand on the right elbow. Do this a couple of times. A shower works just as well. Just imagine the water rinsing away all the negative, old energy right down the drain. This is a great one for teens because it’s a way to get away from someone that is toxic without “wearing” that energy all day. You can just excuse yourself to use the bathroom, not only do you get away from the situation, but you can also wash all that away.
4. Release Built-Up Stress, Physically or Mentally
This can be physical or mental. When someone is really ramped up, it’s pointless to say, “breathe.” That will just make them more frustrated. Sometimes the best thing is to get that energy out of your body physically. It is never okay to take that out on anyone else, but a healthy alternative can be a punching bag, using a towel like a bat and hitting a bed, or going for a run. That energy needs to come out, and once it has, then a student can try the other techniques such as breathing, grounding, or washing their hands. If your child carries a lot of frustration, have them do this daily for at least five minutes.
The other release is mental, and journaling can help with that. This is a great practice to do daily because it helps you tap into your emotions. We are so busy that sometimes we really don’t know what we are feeling. We say we are stressed and frustrated, but really may be sad, hurt, tired, hungry, or disappointed. Journaling should be private and a chance to really use your voice to get trapped emotions out. I sometimes encourage teens to write freely and honestly. I also encourage clients of all ages to write letters to people they can’t talk back to (don’t send them), or even list things they are grateful for.
5. Try the “Hands Still” Technique
This is a technique I learned in my Healing Touch training. The palms of our hands carry healing energy. When placing the palms of our hands on our bodies, our own energy begins to help calm and balance us. One thing I like to tell students is to cover both of their ears or eyes with the palms of their hands before bed. Not only does it start to calm the body, but it helps balance it as well.
Putting It All Together
When our bodies are calm and balanced, we can think more clearly and make better decisions. Try the breathing or hands-still technique briefly before a test, or try grounding when your child gets home from school. While at school, they can use the water technique to reset, then journal before bed so their heads aren’t swimming with thoughts from the day.
I hope you find these tips and techniques helpful. Feel free to reach out with any questions, thoughts, or concerns.
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