Archive for category Stress
Stress Management for Students
Posted by in Stress on October 6, 2011
“Mom, I’m, too sick to go to school today.” We joke about feigning illness to avoid school, but the illness is not always feigned. Stressors that students face each day can be just as detrimental as those faced by their parents. Yet stress management for students is not as readily available as is stress management for adults.
Charts purporting to show “who is affected by stress” list occupations. On a scale of 1 to 10, police officers rate 7.7 and teachers rate 6.2 – but students are not rated. “Student” is not considered an occupation. Online searchers type in a phrase such as “teachersjob + stress reduction” and get a fair response. Type in “stress management for students”, and the response is far less.
Too Sick to Go to School?
Stressors can and do make students sick. Stressors call forth the “fight or flight” response, and the body immediately prepares. It pours forth extra supplies of adrenalin for short-term survival. It puts functions like bowel activity on temporary hold. It redirects blood to muscles. It dilates the eyes’ pupils in order to detect slight movements. The heart speeds up its delivery of oxygen to muscles. All this and more occurs in a matter of moments so we can fight or “run like crazy”.
If the body prepares, and a student sits still, the body must undo its preparations. Lacking opportunity for stress management, it can become ill.
Sick Enough to Excel at School?
Most students find that eustress (good stress) is a positive aide in school. Certainly, too much stress causes some students to freeze during exams, but appropriate amounts of eustress can coax the best from students.
While stress management for students must be geared to specific stressors, some of them are actually eustress stressors – or could be.
Consider the following seven (7) stressors. Read the rest of this entry »
Stress Management Tips
Posted by in Stress on October 6, 2011
A new year is upon us, and with it, all of the collective optimism and renewed energy to commit to a healthier lifestyle. Although most people tire of New Year’s resolutions within a few short months, falling back into old habits, there are a few commitments that can be made and kept, thanks to their simplicity and the fact that they can improve quality of life. One such commitment is to reduce stress levels. The following article will provide some simple stress management tips that can be applied throughout the year.
Exercise
Maintaining an active lifestyle is a great way of using energy productively. You do not need to visit the gym every day of the week, although if this lifestyle suits you, then by all means, go with it. Work on increasing your physical activity level slowly; commit to walking to work once a week, or indulge in a new winter sport such as snowboarding or ice skating. Many people find that moving their bodies helps them to creatively tackle challenging problems, which otherwise might lead to stress.
Eat Well
Yes, what you eat really does affect your mood. Eating a balanced diet that is full of vitamins, fiber, and enough protein is an excellent way of keeping your brain in tiptop shape, thereby facilitating your ability to handle stressful situations rationally and efficiently. If you enjoy the occasional coffee or other caffeine boost, limit the amount that you consume daily, and cut out caffeine sources mid-afternoon, to ensure that come nighttime, your sleep will be undisturbed. This suggestion leads to one of the most important stress management tips: Read the rest of this entry »