Thursday, February 7, 2013

Stress Management & the benefits of Meditation

You may be wondering what the heck does stress management and mediation have to do with JROTC...? It has a lot to do with our curriculum. especially Unit V (Wellness, Fitness, and First Aid) section of the Introduction To The Navy Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps Curriculum book.Unit V, Chapter 7 is about Taking Care of Yourself, and withing that chapter there is a section called Learn To Reduce Stress on page 263 and 264. Chapter 8 is titled Understanding and Controlling Stress (pages 269 to 281).





After the class on Stress Management (near the end of the second marking period) and your feedback from the End of the Marking Period 2 assignment; many of you were interested in this topic. Many of you wrote  about meditation and the desire to learn how meditation can help you to relax and manage your stress. Anticipating some change in the schedule due to pending snowstorm, we will focus on this topic today instead of Friday. Some people feel that meditating can even help the learning process. Lets watch this short video and follow along and mediate in your seats.



Classroom Activity:  Meditation

1. Place the mats out on the floor and sit down or lay down (space dependent) facing outboard, away from others.
2. Teacher will play some meditative music to enhance the meditation.
Music to Mediate By...
3. Use this time to get in tune with yourself and clear or order your mind and thoughts. This should have an impact on the rest of your day.
4. Think about how (what type, location, setting) and how often (frequency) do you specifically try to relax and manage your own stress. If you don't you might want to consider finding a way that works for you.


Homework:
1. Using First name only & class period (Ex. Luke Period 1) Make a blog entry by monday and state how you meditate or relax to manage your stress and what it does for you. If you don't have a relaxation technique or form of stress management, then post what you can develop that you can use and work for you.

34 comments:

  1. Paulina Period 6

    Whenever i meditate, i usually braid my hair or paint my nails. I don't know, but its something about it that always calms me down. It takes me to my happy place. Then again, everyone has their own way to calm themselves down.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Actually not everyone has their own way to calm down or has figured that out which can cause problems for them not being able to manage their stress. I am glad you have a few ways to relax which give you options. The process or "ritual" of doing something we enjoy and feel better about ourselves afterwards is a good way to do that.

      Delete
  2. Josh Period 4

    I usually just research history or do something that interests me. It helps take my mind off things for at least a little while.

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    Replies
    1. Similar to you I love to read to relax, I am very myopic in the subject material I read about (terrorism, counter-terrorism, leadership, and military history. Although it is a form of personal relaxation, I always read about professional topics...?

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  3. Ann Period 2

    I usually, like to go to clothing stores and look at clothes or shoes and it helps me be unstressed. But if i can't go out, i will sleep and take a nap

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    Replies
    1. As one can not help but notice, you are a fashionable young lady. Like many, appearance and presentation are important to you, similar to a recent house theme for the juniors about dressing and presenting yourself for success. It also says a lot about your understanding that being successful is about preparation (the time, thought and associated actions to achieve a goal). Not surprising that you are a successful senior with a great future. Shopping or just looking around
      a store provides you with "possibilities" for change or refinement. Sleep is always good because we re-charge our battery and if we are worried sometimes time and "sleeping on" a decision or worry gives us different perspective. Sleep taken to an extreme (excessive hours)when someone is stressed over time as a habit can be an indicator of other concerns. Sleep is good, excessive sleep is a concern.

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  4. Nicole Period 4

    There is not one thing i do to relieve stress. depending on the kind of stress i manage to figure out a way to make myself unstressed. Sometimes I write a song or play the guitar until my fingers get soar, i work out until im exhausted, or close my eyes and think for a really long time about how all my problems are nothing compared to what other people have to go through. There was one time where I was really upset about something and my brother said to calm down and just watch some TV. He was absolutely correct.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That is great that you are able to identify different types of stress and you pick varying methods to manage those stresses. Having a number of relaxation /stress management "tools" available to you sounds like it really works for you.You are also fortunate to have relationships with others who know you well enough to recognize it (your stress) and make recommendations on how you can deal with it.

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  5. Patrick Period 2

    I find that by reading the Bible, the Book of Mormon, etc. (scripture of my church) I, no matter what, find peace in myself. When I'm calm like this, its like I forget all of my worries and I'm able to function better than I would when I'm actually stressed. Sometimes I forget what being stressed feels like and it can really show, at least to me, when I'm at school, at home, where ever.

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    Replies
    1. Interesting. May people seek peace spiritually in the form of their religious practices. What are some things you can do at school to manage your stress during the school day??

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  6. Jennifer period 6

    I find that when I am stressed I put music on my iPad (any kind)and I start to organize things (my room, my backpack, etc.). I also write down what I feel down on a piece of paper and I crumble it up and throw it away. It makes me feel like I have moved on.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That is great you have a "system" for dealing with stress that is positive and productive. I especially like writing how you feel on a piece of paper, then crumbling it up and throwing it away in the form of moving on.

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  7. I find that when im stressed out i tend to stay to myself and sit on the couch or outside and draw(Sketch) or listen to music that keeps my mind off of things or people that might be causing my stress

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  8. Anshise
    Period 2

    When I’m stressed out I don't talk to anyone I like to just stayed in my room and relax. Also, I tend to forget the little things that I need to remember.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Jackslyne
    Period:4

    Stressed out??? No need for that. Trust God! I mean that's how I see it. Well...Sometimes the way I deal with stress is that I read the Bible or I just write what's hurting me. I mean everything gonna be alright maybe not today but eventually!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Brendan
    Period 7

    Whenever I am feeling stressed out there are different approaches I take to solving it. My main way of solving stress is talking it out. Which often means adressing the source of stress which will resolve the problem. Whether it be friend, family or teacher talking it out helps me to feel that I'm not alone on the problem and others are willing to help. Excercise is also a stress reliever for me, putting in heaphones and going for a run is a good way for me to manage my stress. Saying prayers often help as well

    ReplyDelete
  11. When I have stress I just lie down on my bed and listen to music. Wish really helps me clear my head and sometimes it’s all I need to get the answers to why I’m stressing. Sometime I tried to get some rest because there are times I’m just tired.

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  12. Folston (Period7)

    What i do to manage my stress is i work ou, lie in my bed, and listen also write music. it really helps calm me down alot especially when i write music because, when i write on paper it free to say whatever you feel like.

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  13. Roshad (period 4)

    what i do to manage stress is i listen to music and what this does for me is it claims me down and takes me to a whole different state of mind

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  14. Tyron (Period 2)

    The things i do to manage my stress are listen to music and just try to clear my mind and focus on what is most important. Music helps me calm down, relax, and focus on the most important things in life.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Michael period 2
    A way I relive stress is by going to the gym and working out. This helps me b/c I can focus on achieving how many minutes I want to exercise or go swimming and I do t worry about my outside problems.

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    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I enjoy walking to calm my nerves; especially since I become very anxious and erratic when I'm in the same setting doing the same thing for too long (however long that may be, I don't even know). Going to the gym to lift is a great release for me too, although ever since my local Y closed I don't have one walking distance from me.
      Watching TV or surfing the net is a decent release for me too but it's very easy to do and can even become distracting; so distracting that when im finished I become more stressed so I just use that as a treat after my work is finished.

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  17. Crystal Period 7th
    In order to relax I listen to music or jog. Sometimes I also lay down and sit very still to help clear my mind of anything that bothers me.It helps me refocus and balance myself to get through that time period.

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  18. Zach Period 4
    To relax most of the time I play sports, mostly soccer, or workout. It relieves me of stress that has built up over time

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  19. Libby Period 7
    When I am feeling stressed out the main thing I try to do is try and let it out. I relax by going running or taking a walk. I feel like going outside keeps me calm and I can think more at peace without having to worry about anyone bothering me. I also listen to music to try and get myself relaxed. I like having time to think about my problems and knowing how I can make them better.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Josue Armas Pd. 7
    When i feel stressed i go into my room and i put music or i pray to God to help me or i smash things. Sometimes i like to think. I Drum too.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Ana period 7
    What I do to relese stress??
    To be honest I dont Know I usually cry or simply let out a big SCREAM!
    Stress is a very big issue to everyone and I think knowing how to releave it will make a big diffrence in each and every persons personality.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Wilmer Elguera P.4
    To relieve stress I usually sit down and shine my shoes. Depending on how badly i am stressed, I can sit for hours until my shoes have a mirror shine. Sometimes when this doesn't work, I just go out to a calm place and think or take a walk and think this way I am away from anyone and anything that can cause more stress to me instead of help me get rid of it.

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  23. Andrea Navarro
    Period 4
    When I'm stressed, I usually just sleep. It's a horrible method because I'm avoiding my stress and just going to sleep isn't the best thing to do. I should work out or go dance or do something but I like to pretend things aren't there, that's why I sleep. But i think I'm going to use my stress as a motivation to work out or maybe write in my journal.

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  24. Pablo, Period 4

    When ever I feel stressed out, I lay down in my bed, close my eyes and I think myself doing something that I really love. An example is soccer. I close my eyes and picture myself being a profesional soccer player for my favorite soccer team and I picture myself being the best player in the team. It relaxes me and makes me feel good about myself.

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  25. whenever I'm stress I like to talk it out with my mom or grandma, cry, watch a movie, talk to God (pray), or go shopping which it usually helps me the most.

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  26. I don't think i ever try to relax. I'm always busy doing something. I try to relax one time and it just got interrupted by something i have to get done. I don't really know how to manage stress cause i feel like if i try it more stress will become upon on me.

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  27. for me i just listen to music to relax and manage stress. so that just help me keep calm and not lose it because there is so much stress with school and my personal life and sometimes it hard to balance it out with out the confusion.

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