By STEPHANIE FAROH
Extension Educator, Purdue Extension Kosciusko County

Greetings to you from the beautiful city of Nashville, Ind. Extension educators from around the state meet here annually for our Indiana Extension Educators Association Spring Conference.

Here we learn about extension updates, vote on changes in our organization and network with other educators and state staff to enhance our programming. This year, we happened to highlight the topic of stress and how we all handle it in our jobs and in life.

Stress. It’s such a powerful emotion that we all feel at times. April was Stress Awareness Month, so before the month gets away from us, take some time to reflect on your stress levels. When feelings of stress persist, it becomes chronic and can negatively impact our careers, quality of life, our families and our health. Look closely at your habits, attitude and excuses.

An extension document from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln gives great tips on stress management. Here is what they recommend:

• Know your limits: You may be surprised by the number of stressors in your life that you can eliminate. Learning to say no is an important part of knowing your limits and sticking to them. Taking on more than you can handle is a guaranteed recipe for stress.
• Try changing how you react: Adapting to stressful situations can help regain your sense of control by altering your expectations and attitude. Try to view stressful situations from a more positive perspective. When you’re down, reflect on all the things you appreciate in your life.
• Nurture yourself: This is a necessity, not a luxury. Set aside time to relax daily. Do something you enjoy, whether it is playing the piano, going for a walk, calling a friend, or learning a new craft.
• Increase your resistance to stress: Exercising regularly and eating a healthy diet can help combat stress. Try to be active at least 30 minutes every day. Start your day off with a healthy breakfast and enjoy healthy meals and snacks throughout the day to keep your energy up and your mind clear.
  • Try something new: Practices such as yoga or tai chi can be a fun socialization opportunity or a great way to unwind by yourself. Research shows that practices like yoga and tai chi help with stress relief, improve balance and mental focus, strengthen muscles and increase flexibility. The great part is that anyone at any age or physical ability can modify these techniques to make them work for you. Check with your doctor before beginning a new fitness routine.

Make a conscious effort to spend more time in a lower gear, take time in between bursts to rest and recuperate, or learn to change your point of view and look at the positive aspect of a situation to lower and manage stress.

Here’s to a healthier you.