Managing Winter/holiday stress and anxiety

While this can be a fun and exciting time of year for many students and staff, this can also be a time of increased stress and anxiety (as well as depression) for many in our school community. These negative feelings can occur for a variety of reasons, including changes in routine, uncertainty about holiday plans, concern for family for financial reasons and feelings of being unsafe when school is their "safe space" and they know they will be away for extended periods of time.  

Building Resiliency

• Positive Attitudes and Emotions- providing words of encouragement and talking openly about all feelings. 

• Competence- People who feel competent are resilient.  Feelings of competence arise from success.  Look for small successes in everyone. 

• Network of Connections- Helping others fosters positive connections.

• Physical Health- Eating healthy and regular exercise are proven to improve resilience and extremely helpful for emotional health. 

Helpful Ways to Manage Emotions

Step 1: Pause- stop and think things through.

Step 2: Acknowledge what you're feeling.

Step 3: Think- Think about ways to make yourself feel better.

Step 4: Help- Take action to help yourself based on what you came up with in the think step.

Step 5: If you have trouble in the think step, here are some "feel better" suggestions

• Read a book

• Watch a funny video

• Play with a pet

• Watch a movie you love

• Re-organize furniture

• Make a list of places you want to travel

• Drink a glass of water

• Take a nap or shower

• Journal

• Make a gratitude list

• Take a walk

• Help someone

• Vent to a friend

• Deep breathing

• Yoga