Health Presentation

-The focus of this last section is on yourself rather than on what you as a peer educator can do for others

-The two main points I will touch base on are your personal stress and time management skills.

-As you become involved in organizations and take up active roles on your campus your time and energy will get stretched further and further

-Think about where stress comes from and how you usually deal with it.

List them:

-Are there any specific incidents that stand out?

Stress Management Techniques: easy helpful ways to relieve immediate stress

Ð'* -Attack the Problem- there are times when there is one issue that is the main source of stress. It is important to resolve this rather than ignoring it. Make a plan and write down what you will do about it.

Ð'* Talk through it with someone-find someone to listen to you just as you would listen to others.

Ð'* Find Relaxation Exercises ie. Music, meditation, anything that calms you down and lets you focus so your mind is together when you need to deal with a problem.

Ð'* "get away from it" do something you enjoy doing exercise is a good example.

Ð'* Don't add Stress with poor health decisions-it's a bad idea to deal with stress in unhealthy ways, this includes not getting sleep, eating junk food, over use of caffeine or energy drinks and especially using any substance to escape from stress by getting drunk or high.

Ð'* Ask for Help- Don't be afraid of asking for help you cannot do everything on your own. This does not make you a bad leader.

Creating a less stressful environment: These are things you can do to have you better prepared to deal with stress.

Ð'* Try to become a positive person-Have a good attitude, don't be afraid to laugh, be appreciative of all the opportunities you have in your life.

Ð'* Learn what triggers stress for you- figure out how these situations can be avoided or how you can adapt to lessen the stress

Ð'* Have a Support system- Know who you can depend on when things get shaky. This can be family , friends, other peer educators, advisors, or a professional. You should have plenty of options for any situation.

Ð'* Practice being flexible- Don't have a set way for things to happen every day. If you are able to cope with sudden changes better you will have a broader perspective when things don't go your way.

Ð'* Don't expect perfection from yourself-Don't have ridiculous expectations for yourself. No one can be perfect, don't worry you have plenty going for you right now. Be grateful that you're a college student, your becoming a leader as a peer educator, your involved. Appreciate who you are and what you are what you are doing. Don't get too down about your faults.

Time Management: Getting everything done and being involved does not indicate how smart you are. Anyone can find ways to fit things into their life with a some organization and time management skills. These skills are very personal, everyone's needs are different and only you know exactly what you need to adjust and what your body needs to do. These tips will help but you really have to find what fits your life style.

Ð'* Organize: Having a written list of what needs to be done and what is coming up is a great way get done what you need to and ultimately drive away stress. Sometimes it is good to have the list in front of you rather that just thinking about what you have to do. If you can visualize what needs to be done it may seem like much less than you once thought. This does not have to be daily, you can over plan. Making a weekly to-do list is a good place to start. This will prevent things from sneaking up on you. Cross things off as their accomplished, this will make you feel good about yourself for you are getting things done. Don't get too upset if you don't get everything done.

Ð'* Prioritize: Once you have everything down in front of figure out what the order of importance is. Find out what needs immediate attention and what could possibly wait for a little. Make sure you pay attention to due dates, deadlines, commitments to other people, and what you value. If something can be put off for a little while make sure it is ok. Understand what your personal responsibilities are and what you need and want accomplished.

Ð'* Schedule: Once you have written out what you need to do and given those items on the list an order