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?

Good luck!

• My email is elbailey@umd.edu• THANKS!