Stress Management

Stress management should be approached from the point of view of wellness, doing what one can proactively to prepare oneself for stressful situations so one can weather them with peace of mind.

Thus the first step in stress management is to actively decide to take care of one's own well-being. Caring for one's own well-being does not mean being a selfish person. It means taking the time to focus on what has worked in the past to bring you a sense of well-being, of balance, and of peace of mind, including caring or others. We can also learn from others, especially those we admire, what they do to maintain a sense of well-being.

The second step in stress management is to realistically evaluate how much stress one is under. The stress caused by medical school and other healthcare education is very high and is almost always underestimated. In addition to academic pressures there are the difficulties of adjusting to a new environment, perhaps a new city, as well as the usual vicissitudes of personal life.

Human beings need positive experiences in the physical, intellectual, emotional and spiritual or religious areas of their lives. A plan to manage stress should address those physical, intellectual, emotional and religious or spiritual needs.

Practical ideas for managing stress include:

1. regular but not excessive exercise
2. good nutrition
3. getting enough sleep
4. setting up a schedule for studying and for other activities, and sticking to it
5. making time for spending with friends and family and for making new friends
6. making more time for hobbies and other diversions; but at the same time
7. avoiding becoming overcommitted

Aids to stress management at Jefferson include the activities at the Commons Board and of the Wellness Curriculum. There is also a mindulfness-based stress reduction course given by Drs. Diane Reibel and Steve Rosenzweig. Confidential individual counseling about how to manage stress is available through the Student Personal Counseling Center at 215-503-2817.