Sts nagging at christmas

17 Lyceum of Athens January 2015 Issue : STRESS Activity: Sharing personal stress moments at home on holidays and realising how stress can be relieved.

Level: A Lyceum

Are you really stressed out?

What are some common reasons you nag about at home during your Christmas holidays?

Have a look at the responses.

Do you relate to most of them?

a.Looking at these complaints-responses now, how do you feel? Are they really serious problems or do you look at them and laugh? b.Are there ways you can deal with the problems when they arise without getting stressed? What techniques can you use to handle a situation wisely and not lose your temper or hurt your family members?

a. Students’ responses: I get angry/ upset/ stressed when‌

SLEEP 1.I want to sleep and my parents talk all the time.

2.They wake me up early in the morning‌.to do house chores or the shopping.

3.I have to go to bed early.

4.My dad wakes me up, in the night, asking for help when something on the computer is not working..

NOISE

1.I can’t study when there is loud noise.

2.My parents decide to clean the house while I am trying to sleep.

3.My brothers turn on the radio listening to annoying music while I’m sleeping.

THINGS 1.They take my things without asking.

2.He takes my jacket when it is freezing outside and I am cold.

3.My brother uses my mobile phone without asking me first 4.My father and brother use my computer while they don’t know how to use it!

5.I can’t find something I have lost

1.I can’t connect to the internet/have no access to the internet.

2.They turn off the internet.

3.My mobile goes dead/breaks down.

4.Although I have saved up my own money, my mum does not allow me to buy PS3 as I am a girl.

5.I have to share clothes with my sister/brother.

6. I do not get many gifts.

ACTIVITIES 1.I have to pay a visit or go somewhere with them I don’t want to.

2.I go to my village with the family and I have no friends there.

3.I have to talk to the family on the phone from all over the world.

4.I am told to hang up and stop talking on the phone.

5.I fight with my brother.

1.I have to get back home early.

2.I am not allowed to go out with my friends.

3.I can’t go out because of a family dinner with relatives.

4.I am asked to go and study.

5.I am not allowed to play video games.

6.I am not allowed to use the computer.

7.I am not allowed to watch a film I like on TV. 8.I am bored at home.

1.I have to take a bath.

2.I have to wear pants I don’t like.

3.I have to clean/tidy my room when I am bored.

4.I have to help clean up the house for visitors and relatives.

5.I have to wake up early and do house chores, the shopping, go to the grocer/super market, go to the baker’s, take the rubbish out etc.

6. My parents or brother ask me for help with something not very hard to understand how it works.

1.My mum cooks the food I hate and I have to eat it.

2.I have to eat up all my food at the Christmas dinner.

3.I want to go shopping but my mum doesn’t let me saying I already have a lot of clothes.

4.I am not allowed to spend my money.

5. My mum tells me I am anorexic/ too skinny.

6. My mum tells me I need to work out.

7. My parents criticise me about the order in my room, cleaning up, my homework‌.

8. It is raining and I cannot go out.

b. Solutions recommended by students

1.I can smile.

2.I can try to be polite and solve a problem through a dialogue.