Peer pressure happens to the best of us, but it can be especially tricky to deal with when you’re in high school. Here are a few ways to take your power back and avoid giving in to peer pressure.

What is peer pressure?

Peer pressure refers to an influence you feel to do things, by others in your age group. These peers could be your friends, classmates or even your family members. If you feel like you have to participate in dangerous or destructive activities such as drinking, gossiping or committing a crime to get approval, you may be influenced by negative peer pressure. There are many different ways in which your peers influence your behaviour, and some are more subtle than others. To learn how to spot them, have a look at this article.

Think about the reasons

The first step to protecting yourself from peer pressure is to learn more about yourself. Do you have any insecurities or fears that motivate you to say “yes”, when you really mean to say “no”? We all have needs, and we sometimes make the wrong choices because we think they’ll fulfil our needs in the moment. If you have a need to have friends for example, then maybe you agree to things you know are bad, because you don’t want to lose your squad. Reflecting on yourself in this way can be difficult, but tools such as journaling, speaking to a trusted adult or seeing a therapist can help you in this process.

Recognise your triggers

Whenever you’re in a situation where you’re feeling pressured, notice how you feel. Are you scared, excited, uncomfortable? Recognising how you feel in such situations will make it easier to know when they’re happening. When you do find yourself in a situation like this, take a deep breath and ask yourself if you really want to do what you’re about to.

Practice expressing yourself

It’s difficult to say no if you’ve never really done it before. You may feel hesitant to express your truth, especially if you think your peers will judge you or make fun of you. Remember that being able to express yourself makes a lot more confident, and it’s something your peers secretly respect (even if they react weirdly in the moment). Practice saying things like “no thanks”, “I’m not really keen to do this” or “not right now”. Don’t back down from your position- rather smile, hold your head high and be proud that you’ve set that boundary for yourself.

Re-consider your friend group

If you find yourself feeling pressured by your squad often, maybe it’s time to re-consider them as friends. We get it- this is easier said than done. But when you really think about it, would you rather hang out with people who have similar values and goals, or people who make you do reckless things? The truth is that a toxic friend group can impact your future in many ways, so it’s in your best interest to cut that energy out of your life.

Peer pressure is a part of growing up, but the more you learn about yourself and the more you practice standing your ground, the easier it’ll get. If you lose some friends because of this, so be it! You deserve to have friends who look out for your best interests, and are on the same page as you. If you need a one-on-one chat with us about peer pressure or anything high school related, send us a message on Ask CellCgirl.