The busy time of the year is upon us – prom, graduation, spring sports and end-of-school banquets.

University of Missouri Extension Human Development Specialist Jeremiah Terrell says this flurry of activities can bring on stress, especially in rural communities where these activities may coincide with spring planting.

Terrell says now is the time to set priorities and make a plan for the entire family, and good time management is key to stress reduction.

He says a number of tools exist to create calendars on computers. A paper calendar also works and lets family members easily add to it.

Terrell says use the news reporter’s four Ws: who, what, when and where. List and color-code each family member’s activities to get a handle on who is where at what time. If you live in the country, add travel time to the event.

This will help in meal planning and transportation needs, according to Terrell. Find a balance and don’t be afraid to ask family members, other parents or neighbors who have children in the same activities to help. Before things get really busy, put some meals in the freezer or buy some grab-and-go foods to have on hand.

Most of all, make time for play, fun and rewards. The end of the school year is a time to recognize accomplishments of students, their parents and others who contributed to their success.

Terrell urges residents to not be afraid to seek help when stress mounts. He says MU offers several resources to help.

Through a three-year USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture grant, MU Extension provides stress assistance and suicide prevention services for farmers, ranchers, other agricultural workers, youths and farm families. Through this North Central Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network grant, Missourians experiencing stress can access the free hotline at (800) 447-1985.