Stress
It is true that certain life events cannot be planned for but I think that part of the benefit of a higher education is learning coping strategies for live stressors. What are some coping strategies that you have learned?
Another variation to this approach is embodied in the Serenity Prayer: grant the serenity to accept the things that can't be changed; strength and courage to change those things that should be changed and the wisdom to know one from the other.
Great suggestion, Pietro. And exhaling through the mouth will also slow the rate of breathing, adding to the calming effect. Hyperventilating won't solve the problem.
Obviously, you have developed a well thought out plan to manage stress in your life, Susan. I hope the system has served you well.
Do you share your approach to managing stress with your students? Are they able to adapt it to their needs?
I agree but just attending school for hiher education does not in itself prepare you for all life problems and yet still does not always help you know what to do to solve them. /The information in the lesson pretty much deals with helping a individual control thier emotions and thinking. Academic erosion (thinking), Academic Stagnation (thinking/perception)and the General adaptation Syndrome discussed is real. It deals with the physical consequences that your body will experience during a stress crisis. Studying to be a chief or accoutant or teacher through higher education cannot cover all the above bases. A lot have to do with changing the way you think and see things especially when you are in a crisis.
Time management which include delegating and prioritizing when need be. Everyone has some stress in thier life, There is good stress and there is bad stress. The bad stress can affect the person in a negative way. I have learned to take time outs and this allow me to gather my thoughts and not allow my emotions to consume me. I also write things down (list of pro and cons) when going through a crisis this helps to make a better decision one based on deliberate thinking and reasoning and not impulse and emotion. Then when things get too overwhelming I rest and take a me day!
Sounds like a very practical exercise. Do you collect copies of the list at the end of the week to see how the students have done? Is this a graded exercise? Have you uncovered personal issues that could/should be referred to support personnel?
Hi Loren,
I have my students write out weekly to do list. Each time they complete a task they cross it off and celebrate the success of a completed task. I acutally had a student today tell me she has never used this technique before and is finding it very gratifying.
It is an impatient generation. What techniques do you use to teach this principle, Martie?
Jeff, I can not agree with you more. What a great attitude. If every decision we make could be more focused and we all asked ourselves.....will this matter in five years, than I bet we would not have to worry so much about every given day. I remember sitting with my mother years ago at my father's funeral and she told.........if you can get through the next 45 minutes......you can get through anything that life throws in your path.Thanks for the reminder Jeff.
Hi Heather,
I think the most important coping strategy that I have learned over the many years of my life is......take one minute, hour or day at a time. Many of the students I work with look at the big picture without considering how to get to that picture. Immediate gratification comes to mind. Many of my students have never experienced what.....waiting and working for success.....means.
Just to suggest a few techniques for discussion; short, but numerous study sessions, maintainance of health and excersise, and the development of study groups and class participation excersises -all contribute to a less stressful learning experience.
This would depend on the situation. The important thing is to be aware of the onset of the stress. if the awareness is there, then something can be done. The simplest thing to do is breath. inhale through the nose and exhale through the mouth. This should be done repeatedly. An avoidance should be made to inhale and exhale through the nose, this will only raise the blood pressure. The movement of the breath will allow the tension of the body to minimize. I find that an awareness of the breath works best and should always be practiced.
I completely agree. Majoring in a subject is nice and important, but the real development happens as a student learns the disciplines and responsibilities that life is going to throw at them. Thats the hidden treasure of going to school for higher education. MDB
I have learned that, in time all shall pass. I always look at something stressful and ask myself will this matter in 5 years. If not I usually calm down. Yet if it will matter in 5 years then I begin to take it seriously. You would be surprised how many things we stress out about will not matter in five years.
Thanks
Jeff
