Relationships, jobs, school, finances—stress can creep up on you from all areas of your life. While stress is often associated with negative events, positive events can sometimes be stressful, too. No matter where your stress is coming from, here are some tips to help you get through it. Ìý
Recognize that stress is a valuable part of life.
Stress in inevitable. While it’s often seen as a negative aspect of life, stress can actually provide an opportunity for growth. In fact, every time you deal with stress, your brain becomes more prepared for the next stressful experience. This is known as stress inoculation. Overcoming small stressors in life can prepare you to tackle larger sources of stress more successfully.
Counseling and Psychiatric Services (CAPS) has resources available over the summer:
- SilverCloud Online: Join a free online program to access programs specifically made to address stress, anxiety and depression. Each module provides information, tips and interactive activities to help you better understand and improve your well-being.
- Anxiety Toolbox Workshop: Learn how to integrate skills into your life to help reduce anxiety.
- Feel Better Fast Workshop: Learn coping techniques to help ease distressing thoughts and emotions.
Need additional support? CAPS offers walk-in hours throughout the summer.
Use active coping techniques.
Don’t wait for situations to fix themselves. Draw on your previous experiences to help you cope. Think about other stressful times in your life—what helped and what didn’t? Think of tactics that you’ve used in the past that can help you get through the stress you’re feeling now. Identify your strengths, and use them.
Be compassionate with yourself.
Self-compassion is linked to emotional resiliency. Consider how you would speak to a friend that is stressed, and practice using that same language when you speak to yourself.
Practice psychological flexibility.
Psychological flexibility describes the emotional ability to bend when you feel you are at your breaking point. Remind yourself of the values that fuel your long-term goals. Connect those values to the discomfort you are feeling now.
For instance, if you don’t feel like doing your homework, try to remind yourself why it’s important (getting good grades or feeling accomplished). While it’s important to find a balance between work and self-care, it can be helpful to remind yourself that what you’re going through is worth the time and effort you put in as you move toward your objectives.
Find a way to take a mental break.
Down time is restorative and essential to navigating stress in the long run. Schedule time to rest and engage in activities you enjoy, such asÌýhanging out with friends, getting active or watching your favorite show.
It’s also important to keep stress in perspective. If you feel guilty about taking a break, ask yourself these grounding questions about your situation: How will I feel about this in seven hours, sevenÌýdays, sevenÌýweeks,Ìýseven months or sevenÌýyears?
While the immediate stress you feel may be overwhelming, it will likely lessen over time. The further you think into the future, the more at ease you may begin to feel and the less guilty you may feel about taking a break.
