Stress Awareness Month is an international campaign in April with a mission to raise the importance of habits, behaviors, and strategies to reduce the impacts of stress. There’s never been a more important time for us to reflect on how stress may be impacting our lives.
In this section, we round up expert advice, including those in the GW community, to inspire us to reflect on our health and well-being.
Rituals Are Key
Dr. Lieberman, Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Psychiatry Clinical Director at the GW Medical Faculty Associates, says sticking to familiar routines and rituals is important during times of stress and change, such as:
- Waking up and go to sleep at the same time
- Developing a morning routine
- Setting time aside each day to communicate
- Getting outside and move
Even with health rituals, it doesn’t guarantee one won’t struggle with challenges. Pay attention to symptoms that may arise, such as when:
- You have mental health conditions that were previously under control, but you are experiencing symptoms again.
- You seem more anxious about a situation than others around you who are dealing with the same event.
- You are turning to alcohol or other substances in order to take the edge off or cope.
- You are consistently having trouble getting through your daily routines. For example, you can’t sleep or are sleeping too much, you’re skipping meals and/or you are not able to finish daily chores or you are neglecting tasks or activities that typically make you feel happy, satisfied or at ease.
If you experience any of these symptoms, your benefits at GW can help you. The GW PPO and HSP medical plans through UnitedHealthcare include behavioral health coverage. GW’s Employee Assistance Program, The Wellbeing Hotline, offers five free counseling sessions per issue and may be a helpful way to try therapy for the first time.
Headspace can help you make mindfulness and meditation a routine habit, easing the power of anxiety and uncertainty throughout the day.
The Power of a Walk
Cherry blossoms and warmer temps invite us to go outdoors and enjoy a walk. In a recent Harvard Business Review article, Don’t Underestimate the Power of a Walk, the author explores the benefits of walking, including the generation of new ideas, reduction of stressful feelings and integration of purpose, helping us reduce stress.
Taking Time to Disconnect
As we near the end of the fiscal year, check your annual time balance and make plans to take time away from work. While leadership recently announced a temporary enhancement to the annual time carryover policy, taking a day here or there to reduce the impacts of juggling the needs of caregiving, work and home-life is encouraged.
