Excercising and breathing always works.
Robert,
I can't follow your sense of aloofness no matter how much I try. I simply have to find other outlets that renew me - long weekend trips, walking my dog, playing the piano, talking/visiting a friend. I don't frown on your "coldness" as some people see it. I simply see it as the way you deal with the stressors in your life. If it works for you, use it is my philosophy!
I am going to try to get out and exercise more. Going for a walk in the park or down by the river wouls be good. Take the kids fishing or just get on the floor and be a kid again with them. Possibly go really old school and color or draw like I did when I was five...when the lines didn't matter. I have some extra wood and some tools I haven't tried yet...perhaps a new hobby would work. Also, I would love to get into meditative martial arts.
Frank Wylie, MSCJ/Forensic Psychology, LCDCIII, ICADC
Overcoming stress is a part of my daily life. I learned years ago that stress will kill you prematurely and I did not want that to happen. I have developed the skill to move away from stress by looking at all situations for what they really are. I am human and thus at times I get caught not looking and suffer from a stressed situation, but for the large majority of stressors that continually pop up I am not taken in. I do get looked at as if I - don't care; never take things seriously; not acting my age - and other such. My only defense to those that point those fingers is that I am clinically proven to not have stress and am able to function in almost any environment without the residue of a stress filled system.
This looks like a great list Alston. I wonder if there is anything to the order in which you list things here. I like the way you put family first.
I love going to the river. What a great idea Chrissy. It's quite relaying.
To cope with stressors in the future I will begin to use healthy coping mechanisms like doing yoga, jogging, walking, talking to my family and best friends. I will also try to elliminate many of the unimportant things causing stress in my life for no good reason. In this module I have learned how to categorize these stressors and to eliminate or reduce many of them.
Kim
It sounds like you've come a long way Frances. Great work with leveraging the talents of your clinic. Do try stretching. It can be an amazing help.
About two years ago, I began to have issues with my neck and not being able to turn my head to the right to any extent. As the Librarian at an allied health institution that teaches massage therapy, I began using the clinic to help alleviate the situation. I also began to recognize that I would stop breathing or had very shallow breathing.
With the therapy and recognizing the problem as stress-related, I began to practice the breathing exercises as mentioned in the module.
However, I still experience some stressors. I plan to implement the stretching exercises during the day to reduce the muscle tension and I know that I need to improve my sleep habits. I believe that both will increase my ability to cope with the stressors in my life.
What I already implemented helped. But a combination of all, will probably increase my sense of well being and productivity in dealing with career and family demands.
All of he coping mechanism can be useful. Depending on the situation I will try to apply them to my lifestyle.
I loved the feedback provided in eliminating and reducing stress and may purchase a Wii Fit so that I can elminiate stress when I'm not grading assignments or participating in live chats.
Great ideas, thanks for sharing.
Sheri
This week, I have been going to the river to relax. I either go for a walk or just sit and practice breathing techniques. It has been so helpful!
The biggest things that I have to do are
Acknowledge and create more time for
1) Family
2) Exercise
3) Breathing
4) Stretching and
5) Sleeping
Maybe I can squeeze some of the things I really enjoy doing back in there as well.
Ms. Garret,
I recently came up with a new technique. I moved a few weights into my bedroom. I exercise while ironing my clothes for work. While my iron is warming up, I warm up. Then in between my ironing, I do a few sets of exercise. Then, iron a leg of my slacks and so on. It requires a bit of multi-tasking, but it seems to work.
James
Yes, you are right Trevor. All of these things are great ways to cope with stress. Finding the time to work the into your schedule can sometimes be tricky, but well worth it.
It sounds like you have developed some great coping mechanisms Stacy. However, I do understand what you mean about micromanagement by your administration. That can be a tough situation and is a common stressfor for many instructors.
Sorry to hear about your knee replacement but it sounds like, through that experience, you definitely developed some useful coping mechanisms for the future.
The topic with dealing with stress has been very informative. Many things mentioned where methods I was already aware of but it was beneficial to read about them again and bring them to the forefront of my mind. I really like the stretching idea, so I think I will began to use that method daily. I have to liberty to walk around the agency, so I will have many opportunities to stretch.
I have been getting more exercise and rest and I have reviewed my schedule for changes. I will continue to look at my schedule on a weekly basis instead of a monthly to see if I need to change my task priorities. Staying on track with your schedule for preparation helps reduce stress. I have found that when I try to do things at the last minute I miss information and I am not as productive.
Thanks Wanda,
Good information! I just feel like there is not enough shared with the adjuncts about expectations and then they are expected :-) to know what to do.
14 years as an adjunct and I can say sometimes it is worse than this but often it is better.
Stacy
