I often hear from visitors to the Ombuds Office that they are stressed. These visitors include staff, faculty and students and the causes of short-term stress seem to be coming from three main sources: social media/news, relationship issues, and feeling overwhelmed with work/school. Many people also have long-term stress, such as that caused by huge life changes like the death of a relative/close friend, health concerns, money problems, etc. I’ll review some tips for reducing stress and hopefully these ideas will help.
It’s important to be mindful of when you feel stress, such as when it affects your health, sleep patterns, your interactions with others, and your body. Having an effective and healthy means of relaxing is important. You might feel relaxed when you listen to soothing music, meditate, or get a massage. Talking with a good friend or watching a funny movie might help as well.
Another effective way to manage stress is to put away your electronic device and set a timer for when you go back on to check for messages. We all spend excessive amounts of time on our phones and it is often a huge cause of stress. Leave your phone behind and go outside for a walk – regardless of the weather! Getting fresh air and exercise help immensely.
The news is especially stressful these days and there are many events we cannot control. Think of something small that you can do (such as volunteer or join a political rally), plan to put it into effect, and then don’t obsess about it. Don’t be afraid to say no to friends/family who excessively vent and/or cause additional stress for you. Small steps towards something positive are effective for an individual.
Aim to engage in conversations in an assertive manner, rather than passive or aggressive. Establish boundaries and maintain them. Managing your time effectively will also help to reduce stress because you will not always be playing catch-up and you will feel calmer simply by being prepared. Work on the narrative that is going through your head and try to keep it positive. Express gratitude to the people who do things for you. Be positive with yourself as well, and show yourself some love.
Contact a counselor, psychologist or other mental health professional if you cannot seem to handle it yourself. They will be able to help you deal with chronic stress. And finally, get into a healthy sleep schedule where you are getting restful and restorative sleep.
If you have people and/or issues that are causing you stress and you would like to discuss options for handling them, please reach out to the Ombuds Office and we can go over them.
