Hey everyone, happy Wednesday!
Last week was ridiculous! 13 hours of midterm exams, and I only had to proctor them. I can only imagine how my students felt.
The last few weeks, I've been frantically applying for jobs for next year. So far, I've had 4 interviews, 2 job offers, and 2 requests for second interviews. I think I'm doing alright! Nevertheless, I'm still kind of freaking out about what I''ll be doing next school year. I'm absolutely terrified of getting trapped in a terrible contract. Reading horror stories online about English schools abroad isn't helping!
So, let's talk about stress, baby! Let's talk about you and me! (Eww, that was a really lame joke. I'm sorry.)
I'm a worrier, plain and simple. As much as I like to pretend that I'm a spontaneous, carefree butterfly, I'm really not. I reserved a hotel about a month and a half in advance to go on a weekend trip to Pamukkale (a tourist destination in Turkey) during the off season. I probably could have walked down the street the day I got there, and people would have been begging me to stay at their hotel. Even though I keep getting interviews and even offers for jobs, I'm still stressed about what I'll be doing when summer ends.
Being stressed really sucks, and I often don't deal with it very well. I either close myself off from my friends and family, or I become a hot mess. Living in Turkey has helped me deal with stress better by learning to let things go, but I still struggle sometimes.
Recently, I've been thinking about ways to deal with stress in a more constructive or positive way. Here's what I've discovered works for me:
1. Give yourself a break.
Do you have an important deadline coming up, and you want to rip your hair out and scream? Are your coworkers getting on your very last nerve? Is your bedroom floor carpeted by all of the laundry you haven't been doing, and now you have no clothes but also no motivation to do anything about it? Well, don't! I've found that, sometimes, the best thing you can do for your mental health is just walking away for a moment. Take 5 deep breaths. Write down your stressful thoughts on a piece of paper, rip it up, and throw it away. Step away from your housework for 10 minutes and read a few pages of a book. Take a break from writing your paper and watch an episode of your favorite TV show. It's ok to take breaks! I usually feel 100 times better and ready to be productive after I give myself a breather.
2. Find somewhere to be alone.
I suffer from sensory overload when I'm stressed or anxious. Even the smallest noises get on my nerves, I can't handle bright lights, and changes in temperature make me feel like I'm crawling out of my skin. When this happens, I like to find a quiet place where I can be by myself for a few minutes. Lately, I've been eating lunch alone in our teacher's room at work, and that helps me feel recharged for my classes after lunch. Sometimes, if my office mate is not in our office, I'll sit quietly and listen to a guided meditation. This may seem contradictory, but sometimes I also like to listen to music at a low volume. I have a "chillin" playlist on Spotify that has music that isn't abrasive to my ears during rough days. Most of the songs are slower, and I think they help bring my heart rate down. I listened to it the other day just before an interview, and they offered me the job!
3. Move!
I know, you've probably heard it a million times, but exercise really does help relieve stress. It doesn't have to be difficult exercise, and it doesn't have to be for a long time. I love taking walks after I eat lunch. I usually listen to music and wander around campus. After 10 minutes of walking and enjoying the sunshine, I find myself forgetting about work completely! If you don't have a lovely outdoor space to walk in like I do, then try doing a few gentle stretches in your office or in a quiet space. Try these or these.
4. Talk about it.
I'm really bad about talking about my stress. I either bottle it up or ramble on about it for way too long. Recently, I've been better about sharing what's bothering me with my boyfriend. Lucky for me, he's a good listener! Find someone who you trust, and let it all out. You could even find a stress buddy: someone who you talk to on a regular basis about what's stressing you out, and they share their thoughts with you. You might want to set parameters when you talk, such as, "No giving advice", or "Yes please, give me advice", or even "Just tell me I'm right and everyone else is the worst" (definitely have done this with Andrew).
Finding healthy ways of dealing with stress is an ongoing process. Maybe some of these will work for you, or maybe you have your own proven methods.Whatever the case, be kind to yourself. You only have one body and mind, so be nice to them!
How do you deal with stress? Share in the comments!
Until next time,
Heather
xoxo
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