“Don’t Get Angry”
Angry Bird Bulletin Board:
Stress Management
Techniques & Tips
Justin Averill
Snyder Hall- University of Illinois
Urbana Champaign
WRITE
It may help to write about things
that are bothering you. Write for
10 to 15 minutes a day about
stressful events and how they
make you feel. Maybe even
considering writing in a “Stress
Journal”. This will help you figure
out what exactly is making you
feel stressed. After knowing what
the cause is, it’ll be easier for you
to figure out how to cope.
LET YOUR
FEELINGS OUT
Talk, laugh, cry, and express
your anger when you really
need to. Talking with friends,
family members, a
counselor, or even members
of your clergy about your
feelings is an extremely
healthy way to relieve
stress.
DO SOMETHING
YOU ENJOY
This can be a variety of activities.
You can pick from one of your
hobbies, such as gardening or
scrapbooking. Doing something
creative helps as well, like arts
and crafts. Volunteer work is also
another great way to relieve
stress. Even if you feel like you’re
too busy to do this, just set aside
a little time for yourself and you’ll
notice a difference!
MEDITATE
While you may think it sounds
a little odd, during meditation
you’re able to focus on things
that are happening right now.
A simple way to meditate is to
just sit/lie down, relax, and
focus on how you are
breathing. Another way is to
just sit in a chair with your
eyes shut and focus for about
15-20 minutes.
USE GUIDED
IMAGERY
Guided imagery is when
you are able to relax,
focus, and picture yourself
where you think you would
feel most relaxed. This
could be in a field on a
sunny day, a beach, a
park, anywhere that you
think you will feel the most
calm.
EXERCISE
Regular exercise is one of the
best ways to manage stress.
Walking is a great way to get
started. Even everyday activities
like yard work and cleaning can
help reduce stress. Stretching is
also a great way to reduce
muscle tension. While the ARC is
a great way to exercise, don’t
forget that there’s an Exercise
Room in the Upper Level of the
SDRP.
BREATHING
EXERCISES
Breathing Exercises are
another great way to
reduce stress. A great
technique is the 4-7-8.
While inhaling, count to 4.
Hold your breath and count
to 7. And when you’re
exhaling, count to 8. Make
sure you’re counting on the
same interval!
READING
Setting aside some time to
read for leisure really can give
you some time to unwind and
relax. Though everyone does
get a bunch of reading
assignments for classes, it’s
important to make sure that
you pick something you’d like
to read and feel you’d enjoy.