It's important to recognize signs of stress to be better able to manage it and learning about the effects of stress within our body is a great way to start.

Our School Counsellor regularly organizes guest speakers to present on the topic. Just this November, we welcomed Dr. Catherine Raymond who presented an introductory conference in Dr. Sonia Lupien's popular 'Mammouths' series on stress. During the presentation, Dr. Raymond demystified the notion of stress and outlined its mechanisms, deconstructed stress using the NUTS technique developed by Dr. Sonia Lupien and the Centre for Studies on Human Stress (CSHS), and encouraged our community to understand stress and how to control one's response to it. Tamara Schwager from Ometz Counselling has also joined us in past years to shed a light on the topic. During a recent presentation, she shared 10 helpful tips and techniques to manage stress and anxiety on a daily basis.

Here are some of our favourite ways to manage stress. We encourage you to take part in at least one of the following actions each day:

1. Eat healthy foods. Food is fuel so make an extra stop at the Ross Hall salad bar.
2. Get enough sleep. Try to go to bed and wake up at the same time each day. This allows your internal clock to regulate and helps you feel more rested during the day.
3. Exercise. Sign up to participate in one of the Carnival activities. Bubble soccer anyone?
4. Connect with others. Participate in one of the Student Life activities whether it's watching a movie with your house or joining a new club.
5. Connect with nature. Did you know we have a brand new Explorers Club? Walk our campus trails and discover beautiful locations like Lac de Nations, Mont Orford, and Mont Bellevue.
6. Practise gratitude and mindfulness. Make it a habit to write down what you are grateful for each day. Today we are grateful for the clear and sunny skies that give us energy in the winter.

Don't forget to stop by the Communications Office (SH-103) from 8:30 AM- 5:00 PM this week to fill out a 'Talk Bubble' with what you are doing to practise self-care and spread kindness during this time. Can't make it to campus? Send us a DM or private message and we'll make up a 'Talk Bubble' for you!