Chaplain's Chat
Hi Everyone,
It is our last week of school, and what a year it's been! All our students have worked hard and have certainly earned their Christmas break.! If you’re like me, around this time of year things start to get more stressful. You start worrying about things in the future and thinking of all the things you haven’t yet achieved this year.
It is really easy to spiral and stress yourself out when you start thinking of everything you need to do. Here are some things that can definitely increase your stress levels:
- Sleep less: Not getting enough sleep will make you cranky and wired. You need at least 8 hours to function well. Sleep resets our hormone levels and protects us from stress and depression.
- Be inactive/avoid and escape: Sitting around doing nothing can be great but if you’re already stressed out it helps worries to build. Using shows or games as a distraction can also make you feel more listless and stressed
- Isolate yourself: When you are really stressed, you can’t think straight and rely on yourself alone to sort things out. This can perpetuate your worries and stress
- Worker harder and focus on the negative: If you continue working through the stress and focusing on what will happen if you stop, your stress will definitely increase. Not taking time out causes more stress, not reduces it.
So how do you calm down? How do you counter-act these things which can make you more stressed?
Don’t think about the end result, focus on the steps you have to take today to get to that outcome: Lots of anxiety thinking is about how future events will turn out. Try to tame your mind so that you stop thinking about questions you don’t know the answer to. Instead, practice narrowing your attention to what you can do right now
Exercise: Being physically active lowers our stress levels. Exercise increased blood flow to the brain where problems can get solved.
Write it out: Get your worries out of your head. Write them down on a sheet of paper.
Talk to someone you trust: Now you know everyone gets stressed at times, tell someone you can rely on about feeling worried. Even if they don't have any suggestions for you, just telling someone makes a difference.
Breathe deeply: When you feel stressed, take a moment to breathe deeply. Put your hand on your belly and take a big breath. Then slowly breathe out as you count to yourself, “one thousand, two thousand, three thousand”. Slowing down your breathing resets your body.
Drink water: Drinking water lowers the level of cortisol (a stress hormone) in your body.
Stop mind juggling start doing: Lots of people when they get stressed freeze up and feel like they
can't start anything. Start somewhere. Your first attempt doesn't have to be the perfect answer. Getting started builds momentum and confidence.
Use a mood shift playlist: Music is a powerful way of lessening stress. Make a playlist of your best feel good songs and play when you find the worries are creeping in.
Slow down, enjoy your break and we will see you again next year!
Angelique Vardis