{"588403":{"#nid":"588403","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Managing Mid-Semester Stress","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe mid-point of the spring semester can feel like a particularly stressful time. If your student is feeling overwhelmed, they are far from alone. During this busy time, it\u0026rsquo;s important that students prioritize self-care so that they feel mentally and physically equipped to thrive at Georgia Tech. Here are some ideas for effective stress management:\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Col\u003E\r\n\t\u003Cli\u003ERemember that stress isn\u0026rsquo;t all bad. Without some degree of stress, we wouldn\u0026rsquo;t feel motivated to do our work. An optimal amount of stress feels energizing, motivating, and helps us focus on the task at hand.\u003C\/li\u003E\r\n\t\u003Cli\u003EToo much stress feels overwhelming. Over-stress can show up physically (e.g., rapid heart rate \u0026amp; high blood pressure, muscle tension, sweating, digestive issues, headaches, fatigue, increased frequency of colds and infections); emotionally (anxiety, irritability, emotional outbursts, restlessness, concentration difficulties, forgetfulness, pessimism); and behaviorally (avoidance, social withdrawal, conflict, sleeping problems, loss of appetite, increased use of substances).\u003C\/li\u003E\r\n\t\u003Cli\u003EIf any of the signs of over-stress are present, regard them as important information that something needs to change. Try:\r\n\t\u003Col\u003E\r\n\t\t\u003Cli\u003EReaching out for social support\u003C\/li\u003E\r\n\t\t\u003Cli\u003EAttending to The Big 3: sleep, diet, exercise.\u003C\/li\u003E\r\n\t\t\u003Cli\u003EBuilding in fun \u0026ndash; but not in a way that facilitates procrastination.\u003C\/li\u003E\r\n\t\u003C\/ol\u003E\r\n\t\u003C\/li\u003E\r\n\t\u003Cli\u003ESpeaking of procrastination, the avoidance of stressors is a common response to stress \u0026ndash; that tends to cause more stress. Here are some suggestions for overcoming procrastination:\r\n\t\u003Col\u003E\r\n\t\t\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cem\u003EExcuse: \u0026ldquo;I can\u0026rsquo;t get motivated.\u0026rdquo;\u003C\/em\u003E\u0026nbsp;Action comes first, motivation follows. Plan to give yourself a reward for performing the behavior you intend. When all else fails, tell yourself to just \u0026ldquo;do just 10 minutes.\u0026rdquo;\u003C\/li\u003E\r\n\t\t\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cem\u003EExcuse: \u0026ldquo;It seems overwhelming. \u003C\/em\u003E\u003Cem\u003EI don\u0026rsquo;t know where to start.\u0026rdquo;\u003C\/em\u003EMake an outline and break it down into smaller tasks. Ask yourself: \u0026ldquo;What\u0026rsquo;s the first step?\u0026rdquo; Identify starter tasks (and combine with the \u0026ldquo;10 minute\u0026rdquo; strategy.) Remember that perfect is the enemy of the good \u0026ndash; and the finished.\u003C\/li\u003E\r\n\t\t\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cem\u003EExcuse: \u0026ldquo;I keep engaging in avoidance and distractions.\u0026rdquo; \u003C\/em\u003EEliminate distractions and time wasters. Use your distractions (e.g., social media) as time-limited rewards. Tackle the most difficult part first.\u003C\/li\u003E\r\n\t\u003C\/ol\u003E\r\n\t\u003C\/li\u003E\r\n\t\u003Cli\u003EIf these strategies aren\u0026rsquo;t enough, remember that the Counseling Center is here to help. We provide \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/counseling.gatech.edu\/content\/433\/\u0022\u003ELife Skills workshops\u003C\/a\u003E and other counseling services designed to support students through stressful times. Please visit counseling.gatech.edu for additional information about our programs and services.\u003C\/li\u003E\r\n\u003C\/ol\u003E\r\n","summary":null,"format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":[{"value":"Dr. Erin English, Georgia Tech Counseling Center"}],"field_summary":"","field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The mid-point of the spring semester can feel like a particularly stressful time. If your student is feeling overwhelmed, they are far from alone."}],"uid":"27244","created_gmt":"2017-03-07 19:19:52","changed_gmt":"2017-03-07 19:19:52","author":"Sara Warner","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2017-03-07T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2017-03-07T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"groups":[{"id":"1298","name":"Parent and Family Programs"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[],"email":["parents@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}