Fall is on the horizon, and that means school days will soon be here again.

A new school season can be tough on the whole family. Yes, your kids may be nervous about new teachers and classes, but it’s just as common for parents to feel anxiety over having to pack lunches, enforce homework, and figure out rides to school, sports practice, and other events.

And this year, with many schools reopening for in-person classes for the first in a year and a half, the potential for anxiety is greater than ever.

Here are 3 tips to help you navigate this year’s back-to-school stress with more calm and focus.

Try a 5-Minute Morning Meditation

Meditation is one of the most effective techniques known for dealing with stress. By taking just a few minutes each day to sit with yourself and focus on your breath, you’ll find that you’re able to approach the day feeling calmer and more centered.

The idea of meditation might sound daunting, but it doesn’t have to be! You can get started in as little as 5 minutes a day. There are many different ways to meditate, but one of the most common and accessible methods is to simply focus on your breath.

To do it, simply sit comfortably in a quiet place and close your eyes. Try to put all of your attention on your breathing. Focus on the inhalation, tracking the air all the way until it’s in your lungs. Then do the same thing in reverse, tracking the exhalation until you’re ready for another breath. 

You’ll find that your attention wanders constantly. But that’s OK! It happens to everyone. When you realize that your attention has wandered to other thoughts, just gently return your focus to your breathing.

It’s this act of gentle refocusing that trains your mind to be less distracted and anxious.

Get Up and Get Moving

Physical activity is another outstanding way to help keep anxious thoughts at bay.

When we’re stressed, our bodies have a tendency to tighten up. Over time, we can start to feel like a wound-up spring.

But a little physical activity can help to unwind that spring, so to speak, leaving you feeling more relaxed and less tense. Exercise can also lift your mood in general, helping you feel more upbeat and positive.

So what kind of exercise should you do?

Both cardio (think: jogging, swimming, biking) and strength training (lifting weights, doing bodyweight exercises) are highly effective and highly recommended. But you don’t even have to go that far. Simply getting more physical activity and movement, in general, can help.

Here are some easy ways to bake more movement into your daily routine: 

• Go for a walk during half of your lunch break
• Take your family for a hike in a forest to see the autumn leaves 
• Park your car a few blocks away from wherever you’re going 
• Take the stairs instead of the elevator 
• Use a standing desk at work

Consider CBD for a Greater Sense of Calm

Last but not least, CBD is a great way to help manage feelings of anxiety and promote a sense of calm and focus. 

Last but not least, CBD is a great way to help manage feelings of anxiety and promoting you’re new to CBD, we’d recommend trying one of our CBD oils or some of our CBD gummies to get started. 

Our CBD gummies, in particular, are convenient because you can quickly pop a few in your mouth anytime you feel your stress levels rising. They have a gummy bear-like consistency and come in several flavors.

A great choice would be our Calm CBD Gummies, which are lemon-lime flavored and contain lemon balm to help promote relaxation. Another option would be our Sleep CBD Gummies, which are raspberry flavored and contain extra melatonin to help you drift off to sleep at night. 

But no matter which type of oil or gummy you choose, all of our full-spectrum CBD products can help you beat back-to-school stress by…

• Promoting a sense of calm and relaxation
• Helping to keep anxious feelings at bay
• Making it easier to fall and stay asleep at night

Regarding that last bullet-point: remember that consistent, high-quality sleep will help you wake up each morning feeling refreshed and ready to take on the day.

There you have it! Try these 3 steps to help keep anxiety at bay so you and your family can enjoy the beautiful fall season ahead.