Dealing with Peer Pressure
By: Ashley and Cilicia
Peer pressure isn’t just a cliched concept that you see in rom-coms, nor is it a fallacy that people warn you about. Peer pressure is real and present in our everyday lives. Minimizing the amount of peer pressure in your life will be a positive step for your own well-being as well as the well-being of others. Here are some tips on how you can minimize peer pressure from your life!
- Plan ahead
- Don’t put yourself in a position where you know you will be pressured to do something you don’t want to do
- If you have to be in a situation where you may be pressured, try to come up with responses beforehand so you won’t feel as anxious and unsafe
- Be around people who make you feel good
- Let the person who is putting pressure on you know how you feel
- Be repetitive - don’t hesitate to state how you feel multiple times
- Learn to say “No.”
- Practice saying “no” in safe environments
- Say “no” with authority so people understand you are certain about your position - they are more likely to take you seriously when they know you mean it
All things considered, be aware of your own actions. Take a moment to think about your actions to make sure you aren’t exerting pressure on others. No matter how subtle it may be and how irrelevant it may seem to you, pressure is pressure.
Try some of the tips mentioned above about removing peer pressure from your life to improve your overall wellness! In May we will talk about motivation. Keep up with our monthly articles to learn tips about how to improve your wellness and quality of life.