Words of Wellness
Words of Wellness are resources for students and the college community
to access and utilize to improve and maintain their overall wellness.
Counseling and Wellness Services staff are available Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for counseling, consultation, and referral needs to currently registered students, on a remote basis either by phone or Zoom video sessions, but we wanted to share additional resources that may be beneficial during this time.
Today, we will discuss coping skills for managing stress more effectively. There is currently a heightened sense of stress and anxiety throughout the world. We are all working to navigate a sense of normalcy and attending to all of our dimensions of wellness, while we are in the midst of a pandemic. This is difficult and it can be helpful to come up with a list of coping skills to help us manage how we are all feeling and reacting to life unfolding around us. Below you will find information and links to various positive healthy coping skills brought to you by TherapistAid.com and The Honest Guys on YouTube.
Healthy vs. Unhealthy Coping Strategies
Coping strategies are the actions we take to deal with stress, problems, or uncomfortable emotions. Unhealthy coping strategies often provide instant gratification or relief, but have long-term negative consequences. In contrast, healthy coping strategies don’t always feel good in the moment, but they contribute to long-lasting positive outcomes.
The Healthy vs. Unhealthy Coping Strategies worksheet (attached below) is designed to teach you about the importance of using healthy coping strategies, and then guide you toward applying this knowledge in your own life. The first page of this worksheet focuses on psychoeducation, using examples and real-life scenarios. The second page encourages you to explore a problem you are dealing with, and the various coping strategies they are using in response.
Healthy vs. Unhealthy Coping Strategies Worksheet
Self-Care Tips
Self-care means taking time to do things you enjoy, and taking care of yourself. When used consistently, self-care can reduce stress, relieve uncomfortable emotions, and improve physical health.
The Self-Care Tips worksheet (attached below) provides information on self-care, including a definition and practical tips for using self-care to reduce stress. Tips include setting specific goals, setting boundaries to protect self-care, making self-care a habit, and more.
Stress Management Tips
The Stress Management Tips worksheet (attached below) presents a number of valuable and easy-to-follow tips for dealing with stress. These tips encourage a healthy mindset about stress, the maintenance of a healthy lifestyle, and promote the use of several valuable coping skills.
Stress Management Tips Worksheet
Mandalas
Mandalas are traditionally used in many eastern spiritual traditions as a tool to aid meditation. In western culture, mental health counselors often use mandalas as a form of stress relief, a tool for art therapy, and as a meditative exercise. Adult coloring is a beneficial tool in engaging your creativity and carving out some “me time” for yourself to slow things down and bring a little color to your day!
Positive Steps to Well-being
The tips that are described in the Positive Steps to Well-being Worksheet (attached here) include being kind to yourself, exercising regularly, taking up a hobby, being creative, helping others, relaxing, eating healthy foods, balancing sleep, connecting with others, avoiding drugs, seeing the bigger picture, and learning to accept things as they are.
Relaxation Techniques
This Relaxation Techniques Worksheet (attached here) includes a brief description of the fight-or-flight response and step-by-step instructions on how to use each relaxation technique. It is helpful to use these relaxation techniques on a daily basis, even when we don’t think we need them. It allows us to reduce our stress and be more prepared to handle stress as it comes along.
Guided Meditation
Rejuvenate and gain energy for study, concentration and alertness (20 minutes).
The Honest Guys bring you a guided meditation to rejuvenate and gain energy for study, concentration and alertness. Gain some energy and feel refreshed for the rest of the day by treating yourself to this pleasant, 20-minute video. Set in a beautiful summer garden, a gentle English male voice will guide you into a deep state of relaxation. For more guided meditations visit The Honest Guys Channel on YouTube or their website, The Honest Guys.
Wishing you a stress free rest of your week!
Counseling and Wellness Services
Campus Center Room 270
(518) 629-7320
counseling@hvcc.edu
Published: Wed, 08 Sep 2021 11:40:55 +0000 by k.weeks