Stress management can help with bad sleeping habits
College life can be stressful. Here are some tips on how to manage it.
The Chaffey Stress Management event is a part of Chaffey’s College Wrap and Student Life fall workshops. These workshops run throughout the fall semester; this particular event covered stress management. This involved the different types of stress and more importantly the ways to manage that stress.
Hosted by Danielle Settler, the Lead Mental Health Specialist Coordinator & Trainer of South Coast Community Services, the stress management workshop started by going over the three different types of stress: acute, episodic acute and chronic.
Acute stress is the normal stress one would feel if you were running late for work or had an exam the next day. This feeling of stress is quick and is typically gone after the event has passed.
Episodic acute stress is when acute stress happens frequently over a set time period. Examples of this would be weekly quizzes and constant schoolwork deadlines. This typically does not give you the time to decompress from previous stressors.
Chronic stress can result from a traumatic event that could have you relive a traumatic moment in your mind. An illness like post-traumatic stress disorder can be a result of chronic stress.
What is stress?
According to Danielle, the stress that we all share is a survival response. For example, this could be the response to a bear attack. Without it, there is no “fight or flight” response.
How can we eliminate stress?
The easy answer to this is we can not; we can only manage stress, not eliminate it.
One way to help this conundrum is to retrain the mind on stress. When you start to feel symptoms of stress like an increased heart rate, instead of panicking, realize this is your body getting ready for a fight. When you start to breathe harder, this is your body getting more oxygen to your brain to process faster.
Retraining your brain can immensely help one tackle stress, but it is not your only option. Having a good support system can help as well. According to Danielle, getting help from others that you can rely on can do wonders during stressful situations.
What is mindfulness?
Being mindful is the act of being present. Instead of allowing yourself to think about bills, assignments, tests or work, remember to stay in the moment and handle those stressors during a more meaningful time.
How can we manage our time effectively?
A few of the more important things one could do regarding time management would be creating a schedule, rewarding yourself for completed tasks, avoiding procrastination and sticking to the plan.
Another time management tip Danielle provided was to do your hardest work while you are at your best. She goes on to explain that if you are a morning person, do your tedious work in the morning. The same goes if you are an afternoon or night person.
Sleep hygiene is another important aspect of stress management. Danielle mentions getting at least seven to nine hours of sleep every night and sticking to a bedtime routine.
What is self-care?
The last topic that was discussed was self-care. This can include physical, emotional, psychological, and professional. Danielle explains that treating yourself with kindness and care can go a long way in managing your stress.