A long time ago, humans foraged and hunted for food and slept in trees and caves. Their threats were predators, illnesses, and heights; one wrong decision could mean death. They were stressed almost constantly. They had to be to survive.

The modern world is different. Many of us don’t have to worry about a lion attacking us while asleep or dying from hypothermia during the cold winters. We’ve overcome those threats through countless innovations. But we’re still stressed. Our ancient fears remained, but more were added to the list of stressors: the economy, first dates, discrimination, doctor visits, group projects, meetings, and much more. Work became more than just hunting and foraging. Life became more than just surviving.

Dealing with stress changed, too. You can’t sleep with a wooden spear by your side and expect your homework to stay back. As technology advances, more ways of coping have evolved, too.

At AISJ, we have a diverse group of people from different backgrounds and cultures. This means people also have different ways of handling stress in their daily lives. Eagle’s Nest Newspaper wanted to look closer at the people in our community and their coping strategies during those rough days.

Here are AISJ’s three C’s of stress management, provided by helpful responses from students, teachers, and staff members.

Creation

The first category, creation, is all about doing a different activity to deal with the stressors of our lives. Hobbies and skills typically tend to fall into this category. For many, creation tends to lean more towards the artistic side. Doodling is one example. When asked about her stress management system, Lyla (G11) showed us her notebook and said, “Drawing helps me manage my stress, so I will often doodle on my homework assignments while thinking through problems and trying to calm myself down.” Her preference for drawing was mandalas. Tamica (G11) gave us a different method. “I list my priorities of work and indulge in my original writing.” This category has well-researched psychological benefits. Harvard Health writes that doodling helps relieve psychological distress, and expressive writing can help cope with stress and pent-up emotions. 

Comfort

This category is much more popular in our community, and why wouldn’t it be? Stressful situations create unease and anxiety; comfort helps relieve unease and anxiety. Comfort involves pastimes and pleasures that calm a person. Dylan (G11) says, “I usually try to distract myself with a hobby or by watching a show. Something that takes away from that stress.” Another student, Devanshi (G11), says, “I listen to music, religious music.” Xander (G10) responded, “I play video games and sleep,” to the question, something many people tend to do. Mr. Cleopas (Staff) gave another common answer, “I try to sleep, and when I can’t, I eat a lot.” Both Ms. Danley and Ms. Bombard responded with their preference to exercise, although Ms. Bombard added that if she’s not motivated, “I chill on the couch.” Teachers, staff, and students alike tend to gravitate towards comfort. These activities, while some might say may be too passive, are recognized and recommended as stress relievers. Sometimes, it’s important to just take a break and prioritize your own mental health.