Ask Me... about students at Memorial

'Tis the season for higher stress levels

First it is important to note that stress relief is personal; what decreases stress for one person can actually add stress for others. For instance, one person commented that baking holiday cookies was a stress reliever for her — I cringed at the thought of tackling such a messy job with two kids fighting to lick the spoon! So off to the bakery I go!

But seriously, for many, not knowing what to do about stress is usually not the problem, but rather the difficulty is trying to find the time to fit relaxation into the day. Exam time is especially busy for everyone, so we must try to make special efforts to provide supportive environments for those around us and for ourselves. To do this takes commitment: commitment to say no when we have too much on our plates, commitment to be honest to ourselves about our work and family limits, and commitment to make our health a top priority in our lives! Once this is acheived, we may find that we have a greater desire to do good things for ourselves. How about suggesting to students or trying some yourself of the following ideas for stress relief:
 

• Meditate — Eliminating outside stimuli and focusing on slow relaxed breathing does wonders.
• Exercise — The beauty you can see on a walk at this time of year can very effective in reducing stress.
• Think positively — Nothing is more rewarding than feeling and being optimistic!
• Build skills — Learn how to manage your time and, of course, how to say no!
• Be creative — The joy of using parts of our brain that are often dormant is very stimulating.

Overall, identifying the stressors in our lives and tackling them one by one may make stress more manageable. Just remember, we are all good people, we should enjoy the positives in our lives, and we should treat ourselves and others with kindness!