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April is Stress Awareness Month: Finding Calm in the Chaos

March 24, 2026
young female with curly hair looking into the distance.

Stress is the uninvited guest that never seems to know when to leave. Since April is Stress Awareness Month, we’re sharing tips for coexisting with that guest without losing our cool. Students of all ages are like emotional sponges – they don’t just see our stress, they absorb it. This month, we are providing a variety of tools and resources to help educators and students navigate the pressure.

How Can I Help Students with Stress?

With the right support, students can learn to build strength and resilience, achieve their goals, and manage their stress.

  1. Put on Your Own Oxygen Mask First: The stress school staff feels can quickly add to the stress that students feel – particularly during testing season. Work towards managing your own stress levels, using techniques like box breathing, a quick stretch to relieve muscle tension, or chat with a friend. Click here for quick stress-relieving tactics (Univ. of Colorado, Boulder), or here for long-term strategies (Mayo Clinic).
  2. Model the Calm: When students see us manage our stress and emotions in real time, we’re not just teaching content – we’re teaching life skills. Don’t be afraid to narrate your emotions, normalize quick pauses to reframe, and replace negative language with affirming statements. Read more tips here (Edutopia).
  3. Lean in & Listen: In smaller settings, you have the chance to help a student identify their specific triggers and build a personalized toolkit. Strategies like guided breathing, Circle of Control, and Name It to Tame It can help a student regulate in the moment, and give them helpful tools for the future.  Learn more here (Kids Mental Health Foundation) and here (Bright Futures).

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