Don’t STRESSSTRESS Me Out!
Elaine Long BaileyExtension Educator
4-H Youth DevelopmentUniversity of Maryland Extension
Calvert County
What is STRESS?
• Look around the room.• Find someone you DO NOT
know well and pair up with them.
• And NOW . . . A CHALLENGE!
Now, Let’s Discuss . . .• What were the words?• Are they positive or
negative?• Why?
WHERE does stress originate?
• Internal stressors– Psychological– Physical
• External stressors– Environmental– Other people???• Positive stress vs. negative stress
Stress . . . Good, Bad, Ugly
• EUSTRESS . . . Positive stress (improved performance, rewards, prizes, etc.)
• DISTRESS . . . When positive moves to negative.
• Optimal Stress?!???
Yerkes-Dodson Principle
Eustress
Distress
Stress
Tidbits on STRESS…
1. Stress is not events; it is YOUR REACTION to events.
2. Stressors affect people differently, and YOU determine HOW you think about and approach situations.
3. STRESSOR = STIMULUS4. STRESS (condition) = RESPONSE (or NOT)
Taming the Stress Beast
• Exercise*
• Diet
• Time management*
• Hobby or enjoyable activity
• Reprogram your thinking*
The Machine: Human Body
• Use it or lose it• Build flexibility• Stretch• Aerobic exercise
– Cardiac benefit– Stamina
• Strength training
Get ACTIVE!
Why?
Diversion
Burn OFF stress hormones
HEALTH benefits . . .
Time Management
• CALENDAR
• To-do List
• Schedule realistically!
• Allow personal time
• Beware of TECHNOSTRESS
Reprogram Your Thinking
• Reframe situations• POSITIVE “self-talk”• Look for the GOOD!• Write a concern/worry on
the back of the index card.
• NOW, reframe HOW you can turn a negative into a positive.
A Stress Busters . . . The Magic of Gardening
• Grow It Eat It—UME Initiative
• Salad boxes and Salad tables
• Construct salad boxes• Select seeds
• Plant seeds• Care for growing plants
How are YOU going to handle stress?