Discussion Group Unit 7 - Stress Management PDF

Preview

Summary

Discussion Forum...

Description

Stress is a common condition that affects a lot of people in their daily activities covering a wide range of causes.” When built over time, stress can give rise to a host of serious problems such as depression and anxiety. Managing stress in its early stages can help maximize the college/university experience and opportunities for students.” (Psychcentral.com, 2016). In essence, stress management serves as a great preventive measure from what could otherwise turn fatal.

Stress has played an important role in my life, and I have had my fair share of being stressed mainly due to piling work up to the last minute, and being overwhelmed by the same things I put off that had to inevitably do, otherwise known as procrastination. The effects have turned to be more serious than projected and while it is not completely bad, by helping in building my character and resilience, it has also led to my feeling down mentally, emotionally, and even physically. In the long run, I have learnt that even though life can throw unpleasant surprises and throw my plans off balance, how I choose to handle such situations makes the difference of being stressed, or being able to manage whatever things that are beyond my control.

In order to decrease my stress levels, I have Identified three stress management techniques namely: 1. 2. 3.

Time Management Doing something I love Being healthier and physically active

Time Management: Laura Vanderkam, in her Ted talk said “Time will stretch to accommodate what we choose put into it”. I couldn’t agree with her more. Often times when I feel that I do not have time for a certain thing, it’s simply because it is not a priority to me. “When you manage your time well, you don’t have to ignore some goals completely in order to meet other goals.” (College success, 2015). Doing something I love: This is probably one of the most effective methods I can apply to my life to reduce stress, being that I am not under any coercion and its completely out of my own free will that I engage in an activity that I completely find pleasure in. Being healthier and physically active

The importance of staying active, getting enough rest, and eating good healthy meals can never be overemphasized. They do not only have an effect on how I feel, but also how I look and my output in my day to day activities. As against literally dragging myself out of bed, dragging my way through work and my studies and being tardy because I am just too tired to do anything, applying having enough sleep will alter my mood and performance and even physical appearance for the better because once I am well rested, I am better equipped to function better. Eating the right food at the right time is crucial to my day to day activities by avoiding binge and unhealthy eating, and getting the right nutrients I need. Exercising will enable me to stay active and alert as “Studies show that Stress is generally lower in people who maintain a healthy routine”. (Psychcentral.com, 2016) These strategies will help me manage my stress by enabling me to have more control over my activities and have enough time to take a break, reward myself for achieving milestones, and celebrate the good moments. References College success. (2015). Retrieved from http://open.lib.umn.edu/collegesuccess/ Vanderkam, L. (2016, October). How to gain control of your free time [Video file]. TED. Retrieved from https://www.ted.com/talks/laura_vanderkam_how_to_gain_control_of_your_free_time Malik, S. (2018). Stress management tips for students. PsychCentral. Retrieved from https://psychcentral.com/blog/stress-management-tips-for-students/

 

Identify what’s worrying you.(fears) is it something you can control? To do list, achievable – to minimize Problem focous coping

   

Where to exert control Don’t be caught off guard. Face something head on with a clear plan. Reflect and learn on the things that work for you. Laura Vanderkam

“When you manage your time well, you don’t have to ignore some goals completely in order to meet other goals. In other words, you don’t have to give up your life when you register for college—but you may need to work on managing your life more effectively.” (College success)...