Reducing Stress is Possible in this time of Covid 19!

Edel Y. Garcia

One of the most commonly used definition of stress is by Dr. Richard Lazarus: "Stress arises when individuals perceive that they cannot adequately cope by the demands made on them or threats to well-being”. Take note of this especially in this time of Covid 19! Yes, following safety protocols is a must to be safe in that virus and also through the help of these tips it can help you a lot in maintaining a healthy inner you. As it was based to researches many people do not act positively to reduce the stress in their lives until physical symptoms force them to consider how their lifestyle is affecting their well-being. Eliminating a stressor often involves major life changes such as moving on, leaving a relationship, changing jobs, going back to school, or may be eliminating negative thoughts about the pandemic. You may not have been able to eliminate totally any of your major stressors but that’s okay. Changing your perception helps a lot. When you change your perception, you change your perspective which really means to "see" something from a different point of view, through different eyes. If you keep your life fit, healthy, and relaxed, you are better prepared emotionally and physically to tackle the stressed of everyday life. Also, one of the best strategies for improving mental fitness and warding off harmful stress to give yourself treats or rewards. A treat may be simply sitting down for 15 minutes with a hot drink and simply looking at your plants with their beautiful and colorful pots, or a long-term reward such as a holiday after a period of hard work with your special someone you love. There are lots of ways if you want to! We may not be able to totally remove stress, but we can manage it. We may not be able to defeat Covid 19 in just one snap but we can defeat negativity with a grateful and a healthy heart.

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The author is Teacher III at Eastern Porac National High School