Wellness Central: Stress

Wellness Central is part of an effort to promote health and wellness to college students, faculty and staff. This video is about stress, and healthy ways of managing it.

California Community College students can access the full Wellness Central portal on their Canvas account. Or, contact our Health Services office! https://www.gocolumbia.edu/health_services/

>> Stress, wow.

>> Well, stress-

>> Stress affects me dramatically.

>> Certainly it affects us all, but I
have a very tenuous relationship with it.

>> In my experience, stress will decrease my
appetite, and make it difficult for me to sleep

at night, and also make it
difficult for me to concentrate

on the tasks that I'm stressing out about.

>> Usually, it makes me tired
and causes me to go to sleep.

>> Like my head is in like a vice grip, and
my heart feels like it's being squeezed.

>> In small quantities it
works as a motivator I'd say.

but too much of it and you just get
overwhelmed, and you just shut down.

_

>> Some ways that I manage my stress
when I have it: try not to use my phone,

or study for a certain amount of time, and
just focus on living beyond the stresses.

>> It's really good to have moments
just set aside where it's like,

"I do this assignment, and
then I take a little break.

I do this assignment, and
then I take a little break."

When you have that schedule,
it's a lot less disorganized,

and it's a lot less stressful
as a result of that.

>> I talk with other people.

That's definitely one big thing I do that's
always helped every single time I've done it,

basically.

>> I try to go on nature walks.

>> Herbal teas for me have
been, you know, a big, big help.

And some of the best ones out there are: Lemon
Bomb, Chamomile, Lavender, and scull cap.

>> Deep breathing, relaxation, exercise,
you know, oh, playing the guitar.

Yeah, music.

Music is a wonder.

It really works.

>> The way I've been managing stress, is signing
up for the tai chi classes here on campus.

I also take adaptive PE, and
working out four days a week here.

It helps tremendously.

>> And you'll know when your mind
says, "Okay, man, I need a break."

So you take a break and relax your brain
a little bit, and do something different,

and you come back to your main
goal - what you want to do.

>> Find time for humor, or watch a funny movie,
call a friend that can always make you laugh,

or listen to your favorite comedian's podcast.

Laughing can reduce stress, and is
an important element of self-care.

>> Meditation and mindfulness practices have
been really helpful for clearing my mind

of clutter and focusing on
what's really important.

>> To call a friend.

Text a friend.

Go on a walk with a friend.

Feel the stress melt away when
you spend time with others.

>> Slow and steady wins the race and when
you think about life and the grander scale

of what are we all racing towards?

Well, you know, we're all going to die one day.

If that's the finish line, then
why, we're not racing to that.

We need to you know, stop and
smell the roses along the way.