What coping strategies work for you?

Objective

After this unit the you will be able to:

Practice simple guided mindfulness and relaxation exercises on your own.
Know at least one mindfulness and self-compassion practices for reducing stress at your choice.

You will select one (three maximum) coping strategy that resonate with you.

Story

Sarah who had been feeling increasingly stressed and overwhelmed with work and personal life. She realized that she needed to find ways to cope with her stress in a healthy and sustainable way.

She started by researching different coping strategies, such as mindfulness, exercise, and meditation, but found that they didn't work well for her. She began to feel discouraged and wondered if there was anything that would work for her.

One day, she was talking with a friend who mentioned that she liked to paint when she was feeling stressed. Sarah was intrigued and decided to give it a try. She bought some paint and canvases and set up a small painting studio in her basement.

To her surprise, painting turned out to be exactly what she needed to manage her stress. She found that when she was painting, she was able to let go of her worries and focus on the present moment. She also enjoyed the creative process and the feeling of accomplishment when she finished a painting.

Sarah realized that discovering individual coping strategies that work for you is a process of trial and error. It's important to keep an open mind and be willing to try new things, even if they seem unconventional. What works for one person may not work for another.

Sarah continued to paint regularly and noticed that she felt happier, more relaxed, and better equipped to handle stress in her daily life. She was grateful for the opportunity to discover a coping strategy that worked for her and realized that taking the time to care for herself was an important part of staying healthy and happy.

Discovery

Let's reflect and discover what coping strategies work for you:

What activities or hobbies have you enjoyed in the past that made you feel relaxed and happy?
What helps you to unwind after a long day or a stressful situation?
What brings you a sense of accomplishment or satisfaction?
Do you prefer to be active or to relax when you're feeling stressed? To be alone or around others?
Do you enjoy creative activities like drawing, writing, or crafting? Maybe exercise or movement?
Do you find that nature or being outside helps to calm you down? Or maybe talking with a friend or therapist?

Investigation

As you read the articles and watch the videos, think about the following questions: What are my 5 minutes coping strategies? Why tools could be in my emergency toolbox? What is a new strategy I could try out?

Watch-

Try it out (2 mins)-

Try it out (2 mins)-

Reflection

Write or Draw on your worksheet

Extended Resources

Watch (6 mins) - The Practice of Yoga Nidra to Improve Your Sleep and Stress | Dr. Andrew Huberman https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKGrmY8OSHM

Try it out (20 mins) - Yoga Nidra - Guided Meditation for Sleep & Relaxation by Gurudev | Non-Sleep Deep Rest (NSDR) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLJu3wQA1Ko

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