January 12, 2026 in Blog by Dee

The Importance of Self-Care

by: Perimeter Healthcare

Adulthood is overrated. A great many people utter this statement out of frustration, and it’s not surprising. Being an adult sometimes comes with overwhelming responsibilities. There are targets to meet at work, and there is a lot of work to do at home. When you factor in social activities and other engagements, you will relish the opportunity to trade places with that baby who has nothing to worry about. But we all know that’s next to impossible. The only way to be at peace with yourself is by embracing the numerous responsibilities and taking some time to focus on what is essential. This includes self-care.

What is Self-Care?

Self-care is a general term that describes everything you do deliberately for your mental, physical, and emotional well-being. As simple as it sounds, many of us pay little attention to self-care. This is why ‘deliberately’ is one of the most important words in the definition. You need to be conscious of your well-being before you can achieve true self-care. It starts from the simple acts like not checking emails at night when you know it affects your sleep and extends to more important decisions like going for a vacation or booking a massage when you feel you need one.

Why is it important?

Self-care encourages you to maintain a healthy relationship with yourself so that you can transmit the good feelings to others. You cannot give to others what you don’t have yourself. While some may misconstrue self-care as selfish, it’s far from that. When you pay adequate attention to your well-being, you’re not considering your needs alone. You’re reinvigorating yourself so that you can be the best version of yourself for the people around you. Everyone around you also benefits from the renewed energy and joy you exhibit.

Self-Care Tips to Improve Your Well-Being

1. Pay attention to your physical health

Physical health is a core part of self-care. The body and the mind have a unique connection, and it’s difficult to be in high spirits when you are not feeling good about your body. Research has shown that regular exercise increases the level of serotonin in our body significantly improving mood and energy. When exercising for self-care, you should choose an activity you love. It could be a regular run, brisk walking, swimming, or just about any other thing that makes you feel alive. You derive extra fulfillment from doing what you love, and it is the love that encourages persistence even when it seems you do not have time for it.

2. Get enough sleep

Too many people are sleep deprived, and it takes a toll on our physical and mental health. We seem to have made the maxim ‘hard work pays’ too seriously. We now spend so much time working and very little time sleeping. Sleep scientists recommend that adults need at least 6-8 hours of sleep every night. Your body needs time to rest and renew. Daytime naps are also excellent for refreshing our body and improving concentration levels.

3. Be a healthy eater

Your diet is a major part of self-care, and it’s an aspect you should be wary about. When you ask people about foods that make them feel good, you get answers like a juicy steak, mounds of lasagna, or extremely delicious cupcakes. However, consistently indulging in these delicacies is NOT self-care. Healthy, nutritious foods are one of nature’s best gifts to us. Make a habit out of consuming good foods that build your body.

4.) Identify the things that matter to you

This may seem easy, but it can be challenging to practice. You need to ask yourself the tough questions to identify the things that matter to you the most.

When the chips are down who do you want to be with?

How do you want to be remembered when you’re gone?

How do you want to make a difference in the world?

Is the pursuit of material wealth worth the strained relationships that are left on the path?

Your answers to these questions should determine your approach to living. Spend more time with those you would love to be with and deliberately live your life the way you want to be remembered. Keeping an eye on your priorities will help you make decisions about how you spend your time.

5. Change your mindset / Gratitude

Too often, we focus on the negatives while showing little appreciation for the beauty that’s all around us. It’s what happens when you have a bad breakup, and all you can remember is how badly the person hurt you. We tend to forget all the amazing things that the relationship brought us. Cherish the good memories and hold them dear even if the unpleasant ones attempt to consume you. Show gratitude and appreciation for the little gifts in life. Take take time to be still and meditate more. If you can adopt a gratitude mindset, you are on your way to achieving the highest level of self-care.

6. Learn to say No

Too many times, you say yes to every request in order to not hurt the feelings of another party. When you do this at the expense of your own peace or health, you are going against the principles of self-care. It’s good to realize you’re only human and you can’t possibly make everyone happy. Saying yes to everything predisposes you to burnouts, and it’s bad for your physical and emotional health.

Self-Care is personal, and no general principle will always work. What motivates you and inspires you is different than the person next door. Look for the things that make you feel alive. Make dates with yourself and when you commit to working out or doing something for yourself, keep the commitment you make to yourself. . We don’t back out on our friends, don’t back out on yourself. By being healthy about self-care, you will feel be better equipped to help others. Go live your best life.

January 12, 2026 in Blog by Dee

Benefits of Trauma-Informed Teaching

By: Southeast Missouri State University

Students arrive at school each day with a variety of challenges; unfortunately, one challenge many students face is having experienced trauma.

According to the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, more than two-thirds of children will have experienced at least one traumatic event by the time they reach age 16.

Trauma associated with a variety of issues can significantly affect a student’s ability to learn. But educators who are trained in trauma-informed teaching can implement strategies to address the impediments to learning that trauma introduces. By creating a safe learning environment for students and following other trauma-informed teaching practices, educators can support students who are facing the effects of trauma and help improve their educational outcomes.

What Is Trauma-Informed Teaching? 

Students can experience trauma related to any of a host of factors such as abuse, neglect, community violence, domestic violence, stress or a natural disaster. These experiences can lead to students’ being fearful, withdrawn or angry, which can make it more difficult for them to learn. Using trauma-informed teaching practices enables teachers to help students address these challenges and get the most out of their education.

Think of trauma-informed teaching as a set of practices designed to create a safe and supportive environment for students who are facing or have faced trauma. These practices take into account the ways in which trauma can affect students, and they seek to help students feel more empowered. Trauma-informed teaching practices are meant to improve students’ ability to feel secure and help them form trusting relationships with teachers.

Characteristics of Trauma-Informed Teaching 

Employing trauma-informed practices when teaching students involves:

• Cultivating strong relationships with students. Teachers create relationships with students that are based on trust.

• Instilling feelings of safety. Teachers work to ensure that students feel they are in a safe environment throughout the entire school day, in any location on campus.

• Demonstrating compassion. Teachers refrain from judging students’ behavior and, instead, show students compassion.

• Enabling students to express their feelings. Teachers help students communicate by actively listening to them and encouraging them to communicate both orally and in writing.

• Providing students with positive reinforcement. Teachers take advantage of opportunities to give students honest feedback regarding their successes and accomplishments.

• Recognizing triggers and acknowledging students’ need for additional help. Teachers know which activities or other educational approaches might trigger traumatic responses in students. Additionally, teachers remain alert to signs that students may need additional support services or counseling.

Trauma-Informed Teaching Benefits in the Classroom 

Using trauma-informed teaching practices can result in a wide range of benefits. Some examples of these benefits are highlighted below. 

Improved Student Resilience 

Trauma-informed teaching can boost students’ resilience, which can lessen the effects of trauma and make it easier for students to learn. Teaching students using trauma-informed approaches enables students to build emotional intelligence and feelings of belonging, which can also facilitate learning. 

Enhanced Student Focus 

By strengthening students’ ability to focus, trauma-informed teaching can improve students’ school attendance and reduce their disciplinary issues. Using trauma-informed teaching methods can also result in fewer incidents in which students become physically aggressive. 

Better Academic Outcomes 

Because trauma-informed practices can create an environment in which students improve their ability to learn, the ultimate result of trauma-informed teaching is improvement in students’ overall academic outcomes. 

Improved Campus Culture for All Students and Teachers 

Creating an atmosphere of compassion through trauma-informed teaching can change the entire culture of a school for the better, which can benefit all of the school’s students and teachers. 

Greater Teacher Confidence 

Teachers who employ trauma-informed teaching practices have more strategies at their disposal and can opt for more compassionate approaches to addressing students’ learning challenges. This can empower teachers and give them a greater sense of confidence in their work. 

Trauma-Informed Teaching Helps Students Achieve Academic Success 

When students have teachers who employ trauma-informed teaching practices, they can learn in environments that improve their odds for academic success. Trauma-informed teaching approaches enable educators to offer instruction in ways that acknowledge the challenges students face and that encourage students to engage in the learning process.

January 12, 2026 in Blog by Dee

How Does Tutoring Help Students?

By: Oxford Learning

January 12, 2026 in Blog by Dee

Own Your Morning, Transform Your Day

By: Centerstone

A strong morning routine is more than just a set of tasks to check off before starting the day. It’s a powerful tool for setting the tone for the hours ahead. The way we begin our mornings has a profound impact on our productivity and mindset. Whether it’s taking a few moments for mindfulness or organizing our to-do list, a thoughtful morning routine can help you have a more focused and positive day.

Lynda Killoran, a Licensed Therapist at Centerstone, says that there are seven key elements of a solid morning routine that can help set you up for success throughout your day.

1. Wake up at the same time every day
   • This helps regulate your body’s natural alarm clock, keeping you on a regular schedule.
2. Don’t hit the snooze button
   • Apply the 3-second rule when it comes to getting out of bed. If you get out of bed before counting to three, you are less likely to talk yourself into staying in bed longer.
3. Make your bed
   • “Making your bed puts your bed to rest, so to speak, making it easier for you to put that part of the day behind you,” Killoran adds.
4. Fuel your body
   • You don’t necessarily have to eat immediately after you wake up, but it’s always good to fuel your body at some point in the morning.
5. Do activities that tend to get interrupted during the day
   • For example, take advantage of the quiet morning hours to journal, meditate, or enjoy your coffee outside.
6. Movement
   • Whether you go for a bike ride, go to the gym, or do some light stretching at home, movement helps get your energy flowing and can be a beneficial way to start the day.
7. Set an agenda for the day
   • Setting intentions and goals for the day can help keep you on track to successfully complete them.

If you’re looking to develop or enhance your morning routine, remember it’s okay to start small. “Start with a 5% change, just one thing you can add to your existing routine or begin doing in the mornings that would make a small difference in your day,” Killoran says. You might start by making your bed or waking up just five minutes earlier. From there, continue building on your routine until it feels both satisfying and sustainable. Check in with yourself regularly to ensure it’s still working for you and make adjustments as needed.

A consistent morning routine can set us up for success in several important ways. It increases productivity by adding structure and intention to the start of the day. Having control over our mornings creates a sense of stability, which can be especially valuable when the rest of the day may be unpredictable. This sense of control also boosts our energy and confidence, helping us begin the day on a positive note.

Because our mornings shape the rest of our day, it’s also important to be mindful of what we should avoid. For instance, consider your news intake. While staying informed is important, consuming negative headlines first thing may feel overwhelming. Likewise, try not to begin your day with emotionally heavy tasks or difficult conversations, especially if they’re likely to be stressful. Save those for when you’re more mentally prepared.

December 17, 2025 in Blog by Dee

How Setting Goals Can Positively Impact Our Mental Health

By: Centerstone

Sometimes, goals and expectations can feel impossible to keep up with. However, instead of focusing on what you’re not getting done, take the time to think about what you want to achieve. After all, goals represent things you want the most, and the best way to make yourself happy is by making achievable goals.

The important thing to remember about setting and creating goals for yourself is having a plan of how you’re going to get there. Ask yourself, How am I going to accomplish this goal? Having big resolutions and plans for yourself is a great start, but in order to get there, it can be helpful to create small, more achievable objectives in between that will get you closer to reaching that goal.

When you achieve your goals, it can make you feel proud of yourself and boost your self-esteem. “Goals can do wonders for your mental health,” says Rebecka Warren, Clinic Manager at Centerstone, “The hope is that they can add more happiness in your life and alleviate whatever struggles you might be going through during this time of year.” Some of the benefits of completing goals are to provide a sense of direction, keep yourself accountable, and shed light on your sense of self.

When you are setting goals for yourself, it is important to know yourself and your limitations. If you fail to consider aspects that are detrimental to completing your goals, then you might be setting yourself up to fail. To help you in the journey to achieving happiness through healthy goal setting, here are some tips to help:

• Know yourself. “Be honest about your ability to do something. If you know that in the past you haven’t been good at something, be realistic in your goal,” says Warren. Avoid having daily goals for things that you haven’t done before, and start small. Try to work your way up to something rather than expecting perfection immediately.
• Small objectives. Take a look at what you’ve got around you, and start by making smaller changes in your lifestyle. Instead of extreme elimination or extreme activity, try to slowly offer yourself options and alternatives. “Broad goals need to be focused on. Try to integrate something you can do in your daily life to help you achieve your goals,” says Warren.
• Accountability team. Having support from friends and family can often encourage us to succeed. You may find it helpful to find a trusted person in your life to help offer you support and hold you accountable in your journey to achieving your goals. Having an accountability partner is a great way to measure your progress and stay on track.
• Healthy expectations. You only have so much control over your goals and the outcomes due to outside circumstances. Things such as moving, birth, death, and the weather can disrupt your goals. Try to be accepting and forgiving of yourself, and know that any progress is good progress. If you had a goal to do something five times a week and you only did it four times, that’s still an achievement worth celebrating. Remember, you can keep trying to build on those accomplishments!

Goals aren’t meant to cause stress and worry, so try to find something that will make you happy. You have the power to create happiness in the future.

December 17, 2025 in Blog by Dee

How Music Heals: The Benefits of Music on the Mind, Body, and Soul

By: Centerstone

Music is more than just entertainment; it’s a powerful tool that can enhance both our physical health and mental well-being. Whether you’re listening to your favorite playlist during a workout or playing an instrument to unwind, music can have a profound impact on the human body and mind.

How does music impact the brain?

According to Mallory Friedel, Wellness Coach at Centerstone, “music impacts almost every part of the brain.” It can stimulate the frontal lobe, reduce stress, and lower our heart rate and blood pressure – all things that help relax the brain. Additionally, listening to music can help improve memory. Take the ABC song, for example. Connecting the letters to a song helps make them easier to learn and remember, and is more effective than trying to learn the letters individually. Another benefit of listening to music is that it can be beneficial for our sleep. Studies have shown that listening to soft music before going to sleep increases your chances of staying asleep and having a full rest.

How are music and mental health connected?

Music and mental health are deeply linked through the way music influences brain function, emotions, and stress responses. Listening to music can stimulate the release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter in the brain associated with pleasure and reward, which can elevate mood and reduce feelings of depression. Music can also help lower our cortisol levels, which is the hormone related to stress. Because of this, music can be used as an effective tool for anxiety relief and relaxation. Additionally, people often connect with lyrics that express feelings or experiences they may struggle to put into words themselves.

“Music can provide a safe space to work through things that you may not be ready to or feel comfortable saying out loud,” Fridel adds. “It can stir up different emotions that may be hard to process.”

What is music therapy, and how does it work?

Music therapy uses music and its elements, like rhythm and sounds, to help people address their mental health concerns and may involve things like singing, moving to, or creating music. This type of therapy works by engaging different areas of the brain to help address a patient’s specific concerns and can be used to treat depression, anxiety, and even trauma.

Just Jam!

In all, music is good for the mind, body, and soul. Listening to music that boosts your mood can set you up for success during your day, help lift you when you’re down, or even just provide space for a much-needed mid-day dance break. No matter what kind of music you like, allow it to work its magic when you need it.

December 17, 2025 in Blog by Dee

The Power of Saying No

By: Centerstone

Learning when to say “no” and when to say “yes” is a powerful act of self-awareness. Setting boundaries isn’t about being selfish; it’s about making intentional choices that align with your values, energy, and goals. Saying “no” can protect your time and well-being, while saying “yes” at the right moments can open doors to growth and connection. Mastering this equilibrium is key to living a more balanced life.

First, let’s talk burnout. Burnout is the state of emotional, mental, or physical exhaustion caused by prolonged stress. While there are several different factors that can lead to burnout, the lack of setting boundaries can be a primary factor for many people. Saying “no” is a key boundary-setting skill that can take time to develop. People-pleasing tendencies also tend to contribute to burnout. This may look like saying yes to or committing to things when you’re already at capacity in an effort not to disappoint others.

Though saying “no” to someone can feel intimidating, keep in mind that it is possible (and important) to stand firm while also remaining kind.

• “I appreciate the offer, but I am unable to help at this time.”
• “Thank you, but I’m not interested.”
• “I’m flattered, but I am unable to commit.”
• “I can’t, but maybe another time.”

Brief statements like these are polite yet also set a firm boundary that allows you to protect your energy.

When it comes to identifying your “yes,” there are a few considerations to keep in mind. First, ask yourself questions: “What does my gut say?”, “What is my intention in saying ‘yes’ to this?”, “How much of my time and energy will this require?”. By taking a moment to answer these questions, you can ensure that you are taking the time to thoroughly think through the situation and its potential outcomes.

Figuring out when to say “yes” and when to say “no” can be a challenging balancing act. However, it’s important to remember that a balance between downtime and social time is crucial when it comes to prioritizing your well-being. While picking up that extra work shift or going to a concert with friends may feel like an easy “yes” in the moment, don’t forget to consider your needs and determine if this additional activity will help meet them. Rest is both productive and essential. Not only does rest help prevent burnout, but it also helps you connect with yourself, creating time for you to tune in to your feelings and needs, which can be hard to do when you overcommit. Additionally, rest is not the opposite of productivity – it helps make productivity possible! In this scenario, rest can look different for everyone. It could mean turning off your phone for an hour or two, taking a nap, taking a walk, or going for a drive. Ultimately, you need to consider your needs and what makes the most sense for you in the moment.

Ultimately, the power of saying “no” and knowing when to say “yes” comes down to honoring your needs and priorities. Trust that both your “no” and your “yes” carry weight, and that using them wisely is a form of self-respect and strength. 

August 7, 2025 in Blog by Dee

Great Leadership Starts With Self-Awareness

By: Chinwe Esimai

Self-awareness has been cited as the most important capability for leaders to develop, according to the authors of “How To Become a Better Leader,” which was published in the MIT Sloan Management Review. Successful leaders know where their natural inclinations lie and use this knowledge to boost those inclinations or compensate for them.

Yet self-awareness seems to be in short supply among leaders. While women in executive-level management positions tend to exhibit more self-awareness than men in the same positions, the overall percentages suggest there is much opportunity for growth in this area. In a study of 17,000 individuals worldwide, the Hay Group Research found that 19 percent of women executives interviewed exhibited self-awareness as compared to 4 percent of their male counterparts. Here are some tips on how to be more self-aware

Knowing You

The one constant factor in all your endeavors is you; understanding yourself is therefore paramount.

Dr. Travis Bradberry, author of Emotional Intelligence 2.0, describes self-awareness as one of the core components of emotional intelligence. He defines emotional intelligence as your ability to recognize and understand emotions in yourself and others, and your ability to use this awareness to manage your behavior and relationships.

Self-awareness is empowering because it arms you with knowledge and enables you to make better choices — to change or grow. Here are four strategies to increase your self-awareness:

Identify External Factors

Identify what factors, triggers, or indicators – both negative and positive – prompt others’ behaviors toward you. Why do you do the things you do, and how do others respond? How do you respond in turn, and why do you react the way you do? What is the impact of culture on your perspective and others’ perceptions?

Gather Trusted Feedback

Feedback leads to empathy and helps you understand the impact of your actions on others. One of the key indicators of low self-awareness is being unaware of personal blind spots—traits or aspects that may limit the way you act, react, behave, or believe, and in turn, limit your effectiveness.

Consider the Circumstances

Think about when to utilize a personality trait to your advantage and when it’s best to leave it on the sidelines. According to the MIT study, most self-aware CEOs learned to identify their “outlier tendencies” and adjusted their behavior in order to change the way they were perceived. They didn’t undergo an entire personality overhaul; rather, they learned how to be themselves but “with more skill.” The executives considered which business or social situations required their personality traits (for example, extraversion or openness) and which did not.

Assess Behaviors in Light of Your Values and Priorities

Do you observe patterns in your behaviors? Assess those patterns in light of what is important to you, what drives you, and who you want to be. Be honest in assessing competing priorities. Are there tendencies that you’d like to change? Are there factors you’d like to add to the equation? The best outcome of self-awareness is to figure out what makes you great and be more of it. Continually add to that list, refine it, and build on it. Conversely, seek to be less of what negatively impacts you, those around you, and your desired outcomes.

Stay Curious

Our inclinations, fueled by our culture, backgrounds, and experiences, influence who we are, but we are responsible for who we continually become. New circumstances can also create new triggers or lead to different reactions. Stay curious, and don’t stop seeking to understand yourself.

August 7, 2025 in Blog by Dee

How To Get Good Sleep

By: Centerstone

Sleep is a vital part of every person’s daily routine as it provides a necessary recharge to your body and mind. Good sleep refreshes you, makes you feel more alert, and gives you the energy you need throughout the day. Getting too little sleep will cause you to be less focused and more forgetful.

“Sleep is a necessary mood booster,” says Julie Bailey, Clinical Manager for Centerstone. “You actually process your emotions when you sleep, so getting too little sleep can make you more irritable and stressed.” Good sleep also boosts creativity, which improves self-esteem and productivity and lowers stress.

How long should I sleep?

We all know the golden standard of 8 hours, but is this a healthy expectation? Short answer: mostly yes, for adults. Experts say that 7-9 hours is a healthy daily amount of sleep for adults to get. These numbers increase, however, for younger groups. Teens should get 8-10 hours of sleep, school-age kids 9-12 hours, pre-school-age kids 10-13 hours, and so on.

“These standards for sleep may vary from person to person, as some adults may truly need only 7 hours to function normally, and others need 9 or more,” says Julie Bailey. “But 7 hours of sleep should be the minimum goal for most adults.”

As previously stated, not getting enough sleep dampens your energy and mindfulness. On the other hand, getting too much sleep can do the same. Sleeping too much, say 10 hours a day, can actually make you more depressed. Depression also makes you more tired, making you want to sleep more, thus causing a vicious cycle.

While the length of time you spend asleep is important, so is the quality of your sleep. The sleep cycle works in several stages, and sleep is best when you go through each stage. Therefore, what you do before bed matters, as staying asleep helps ensure you go through each stage.

Optimizing sleep

Fortunately, there are several methods experts recommend for getting good sleep. Below are several recommendations to help you optimize your sleep.

• Keep it consistent. It is much easier to achieve regular sleep when you set a good rhythm for yourself. Establish a sleep routine, going to bed and waking up simultaneously every day. The longer you do this, the easier it will be, and the better you will feel!
• Turn off your screens. The light from your phone, computer, and TV screens negatively impacts your brain’s melatonin levels, disrupting sleep. This, and the stimulation from watching your favorite shows, make falling asleep harder. If you do need help falling asleep, instead try listening to relaxing music, an audiobook, or sleep stories to help soothe you to sleep.
• Manage your nighttime routine. What you do before bed matters. In the hours before bed, you should avoid caffeine, nicotine, sugar, and alcohol, as they all either make it harder to fall asleep or disrupt your sleep once it has already started. Avoid exercising too soon before bed, as it will take time for your body to cool down. Control light, decreasing it throughout the evening to more naturally get tired.
• Don’t psych yourself out. If you are worried that you will have trouble falling asleep, you likely will. This concern becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy of difficulty sleeping. To take the pressure off yourself, approach sleep from a mindset of relaxing and unwinding rather than just trying to fall asleep.
• Manage your stress. If you don’t manage your stress during the day, it will follow you into the night, making it harder to fall asleep and stay asleep. If you choose to tackle your problems instead of ignoring them, you will both fall asleep and wake up the next morning more peacefully.

August 7, 2025 in Blog by Dee

How Stress Management Can Benefit Your Physical and Mental Health

By: Centerstone

There are a multitude of reasons that people find themselves stressed in their daily life. Some points of stress are situational, or they can be more general—like family, work, school, and personal relationships. Stress can be overwhelming to endure alone, and without helpful ways of managing it, it can create havoc in the mind and body.

Stress is a biochemical reaction to something that creates tension—whether that is emotional or physical. When we experience stress, our brain goes on “high alert” as it prepares our body to respond to whatever situation is at hand. In these moments, our body begins a complex process, part of which is to release hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline, essentially preparing the body to fight, flee, or freeze. While this process can be lifesaving in truly dangerous situations, experiencing this stress reaction on an ongoing basis can have detrimental health consequences.

The responses caused by stress are normal and can be very useful. Stress helps us do well on tests or perform well at work. Stress helps us slam on the brakes when a car in front of us stops suddenly. However, stress can also cause physical, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral difficulties including nausea, racing thoughts, inconsistent sleep, anxiety, panic attacks, and difficulty concentrating.

If stress goes unaddressed it can lead to serious health issues like obesity, substance use disorder, heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes. It is extremely important to monitor the responses you are having to stress and find ways to better manage them. If you are experiencing symptoms of stress, try using these practices to help:

• Setting boundaries. Create reasonable boundaries to help with self-preservation. Say “no” when you feel overwhelmed. Keep your mental health in mind, and open up conversations with family, friends, and even coworkers about what you can or can’t manage.
• Practicing mindfulness. Be present in your surroundings. Be aware and know what makes you happy. Do something for the sake of making you happy that has no other purpose involved. Read the novel, play the videogame, and watch the TV show—make yourself feel comfortable and at ease.
• Choose your environment. Connect with people—be intentional with your environment. Have people around that can make you feel capable of doing anything! Encouragement is a great tool for dealing with stress.
• Be kind to yourself. Remember that you are a human, and there is only so much you can do. Give yourself grace and your brain a break. Understand that there are many people in similarly stressful situations.

Once you begin to eliminate some of the stressors in your life and learn to be patient with your process, then you can begin to manage your stress in more healthy ways. Take the time to connect with others, and understand that the process of eliminating stress is not always easy. If you have tried to better manage your stress, but find you are still struggling, it may be time to reach out to a mental health professional.  They can provide more tools on how to manage your stress and healthy tips for coping.