The Beyond the Classroom Blog Series includes tips and tricks from Westside's Counseling and Learning Support Teams.
12.5.22 - Get the Stress Out
Written by Lauren Mathew, Counseling Intern
The holidays can be a fun an exciting time, but research has shown that 38% of people say their stress increases during the holidays (The American Psychological Association). Here are some facts, tips, and tricks about stress.
- Stress releases hormones called cortisol and adrenaline, causing increased heart rate, increased body temperature, headaches, stomach aches, and more.
- A great first step to combatting stress is to recognize when we experience it the most.
- A key to an efficient self-care plan is to be intentional with our skills and personalize them! Make them work for you. Think about different strategies to use in different spaces.
- Oftentimes when taught deep breathing, we are told to take a big, deep breath in. One trick is to comfortably breathe deeply with your exhale breath longer than your inhale.
Stress Busting Strategies
- Exercise
- Art, like coloring
- Journaling
- Talking to a friend or professional
- Doing something nice for someone else
- Positive self-talk
- Spending time in nature
- Cooking
- Reading
- Yoga
- Meditation
Stress is hard, and it’s also part of our lives. Keeping these in mind allows us to experience but not hold on to our stress.