How are you managing stress right now?

We all handle and manage stress and unpredictability in different ways.  I guess you could say some of us are in crisis or panic mode, and others are floating along day to day.  To help with identifying and managing where I fit in, I attended a University of Minnesota webinar presented by Carolien Moors, an Instructor with the College of Continuing and Professional Studies, titled, Managing Change and Stress in Unpredictable Times.  I thought I'd share a few bits of information I took away from this session.

Carolien talked a bit about the 4 A's of crisis effectiveness: awareness, accountibility, action, and adjustments.  Two of these resonated with me.  Am I being accountible and taking ownership over what I can control?  As far as my actions go, is there something I can do better, or something that I can quit doing that isn't benefiting me or those around me?  These decisions that I make, not the conditions surrounding me, will determine my path.

We all have different responses to change and uncertainty.  Some may look at it as an opportunity to focus, or discover, while others come away with grief, anxiety, and confusion.  Our brain on stress activates our fight or flight response.  This, in turn, lowers brain functioning which can lead to mood changes, imparied memory, and an amygdala hijack. Some ways to help manage stress in this time of heightened uncertainty include managing your thinking.  Look for thought patterns and check to be sure they make sense.  Identify thoughts that don't help.  Adjust your work habits and improve self-care.  Recognizing and managing stress, unpredictability, and uncertainty is a challenge in any environment, so be kind to yourself and those around you.