{"id":15019,"date":"2020-10-28T11:45:25","date_gmt":"2020-10-28T15:45:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chronicle.hvcc.edu\/wpdev\/wednesdays-words-of-wellness-14\/"},"modified":"2020-10-28T11:45:25","modified_gmt":"2020-10-28T15:45:25","slug":"wednesdays-words-of-wellness-14","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chronicle.hvcc.edu\/wpdev\/wednesdays-words-of-wellness-14\/","title":{"rendered":"Wednesday’s Words of Wellness"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Words of Wellness<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Words of Wellness are resources for students and the college community to access and utilize to improve and maintain their overall wellness.<\/p>\n

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While the Wellness Center\u2019s Counseling and Wellness Services are available Monday \u2013 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, we wanted to share additional resources that may be beneficial during this time.<\/p>\n

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Today, Oct. 28, we will be discussing coping skills for managing stress more effectively, as we continue through midterms and enter into the second half of the semester. 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<\/a> and The Honest Guys on YouTube.<\/p>\n

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Healthy vs. Unhealthy Coping Strategies
\n<\/strong>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\u2019t always feel good in the moment, but they contribute to long-lasting positive outcomes.<\/p>\n

The Healthy vs. Unhealthy Coping Strategies worksheet was 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.<\/p>\n

Healthy vs. Unhealthy Coping Strategies Worksheet<\/a><\/p>\n

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Self-Care Tips<\/strong><\/p>\n

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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.<\/p>\n

The\u00a0Self-Care Tips\u00a0worksheet 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.<\/p>\n

Self-Care Tips Handout<\/a><\/p>\n

Stress Management Tips<\/strong><\/p>\n

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The\u00a0Stress Management Tips\u00a0worksheet 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 they encourage the use of several valuable coping skills.<\/p>\n

Stress Management Tips Handout<\/a><\/p>\n

Mandalas<\/strong><\/p>\n

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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.\u00a0 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!<\/p>\n

Mandala Coloring Sheets<\/a><\/p>\n

Positive Steps to Well-being<\/strong><\/p>\n

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A reminder of some exercises to increase well-being. The tips that are described include being kind to yourself, exercising regularly, taking up a hobby, being creative, helping others, relaxing, eating healthy, balancing sleep, connecting with others, avoiding drugs, seeing the bigger picture, and learning to accept things as they are.<\/p>\n

Positive Steps to Well-being Handout<\/a><\/p>\n

Relaxation Techniques<\/strong><\/p>\n

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This printout includes a brief description of the fight-or-flight response and step-by-step instructions on how to use each relaxation technique.\u00a0 It is helpful to use these relaxation techniques on a daily basis, even when we don’t think we need them.\u00a0 It allows us to reduce our stress and be more prepared to handle stress as it comes along.<\/p>\n

Relaxation Techniques Handout<\/a><\/p>\n

Guided Meditation
\n<\/strong>Rejuvenate and gain energy for study, concentration and alertness (20 minutes)<\/p>\n