GENERAL STRESS REDUCTION
Want some basic tips on combating stress? Check out this Psychology Today article for Five Quick Tips to Reduce Stress and Stop Anxiety.
The UT Counseling and Mental Health Center’s Stress Recess Page is designed for students, but many of the tips on here could help stressed out staff just as easily! Click on “follow our guided program” at the top to get tailored recommendations.
What happens to our body when we are stressed? This worksheet goes over how stress affects many parts of our body.
YOGA AND EXERCISE
The University Yoga club is open to students, faculty, and staff. They hold a free yoga and meditation practice every week. Check out Know Events to find when the next practice is scheduled.
Want to incorporate exercise into your routine but unsure how to do it? These tips from the American Cancer Society’s prevention page will help you find ways that work for you.
MINDFULNESS AND MEDITATION
Mindfulness is a state of active, open attention on the present. When you’re mindful, you observe your thoughts and feelings from a distance, without judging them good or bad. Instead of letting your life pass you by, mindfulness means living in the moment and awakening to experience.
Mindfulness is often easier to understand through experience than through explanation. Try this exercise to experience what it feels like to do a common activity mindfully. You just need 5 minutes and a few raisins.
New to meditation? Here are some tips for beginners.
Wheel of Awareness
http://www.drdansiegel.com/resources/wheel_of_awareness/
BREATHING
Did you know that the way you breathe can affect your stress level? Follow these instructions to practice diaphragmatic breathing, a way of breathing deeply to reduce anxiety.
THINKING
Many people adopt unhelpful thinking styles called cognitive distortions that can contribute to stress and anxiety. This worksheet gives you an overview of some of the more common distortions.