“Stress Free” ABC’s
By Allyson Wynne, Citibank – The Student Loan Corporation

It’s mid-semester and the stress is mounting! You are continuously dealing with demands from students, deadlines to meet, meetings to attend, coping with an understaffed office, work that never seems to go away, and the list goes on and on, right?
Keep this list of “Stress Free ABC’s” in a prominent place in your office, or post in a break room so that all employees can incorporate the strategies into making the rest of the school year as low-stress as possible for your Financial Aid Office!

Attitude – A bad attitude is like a flat tire, you’re not going anywhere until you fix it!

Balance – Attempt to bring balance into your life by mixing equal parts of work and play into your day.

Cool – When things get a little hectic, remain calm, cool, and collected! Take a deep breath at the first sign of a stressful situation. Count to ten before you act!

Deliver – Do what you say you are going to do, when you are going to do it! This simple strategy will relieve stress for you and the person who is breathing fire down your neck!

Escape - Take a five-minute "mental escape" to an exotic place.

Flexible - Plan, but don't be so rigid that you can't change things if circumstances dictate.

Grow – Do something good for yourself; expand your mind!

Humor – An energetic, upbeat workplace makes coming to work more enjoying. Find ways to incorporate humor into your day!

Identify – Identify your stressors. Know when your body is experiencing a stress response, for example, migraine headaches, teeth grinding, chronic fatigue, heartburn, sweating, irregular pulse rate, and frequent colds or flu, to name a few.

Journal – Keep a journal and write down at least one good thing that happens each day, if you give it some thought, there is much to be thankful for!

Kind – Be kind to yourself, it is possible to take your job seriously without taking your life so seriously!

Listen – Listen to yourself, your body, and others. Know when to say when!

Mental Focus – Increase your mental focus through meditation. Take a few minutes each day for private reflection.

No – Learn to say this simple two letter word to prevent yourself from becoming overwhelmed by taking on too much (but also keep in mind when it is appropriate/not appropriate to say “No!”)

Organize – “A cluttered desk is the sign of a cluttered mind.” Ever heard this phrase? If you fall into this category, try putting things in order; buy a planner to keep track of appointments and clean-up the clutter that always seems to gravitate your way!

Plan – Effective time management techniques: plan, prioritize, schedule, and follow the plan! Simple, but effective!

Quit – …Not your job! But, quit the habits that are causing you stress. Identify unhealthy patterns in your life and try a different approach. It takes 21 days to form a habit, so identify what you want to change, and give it your best shot!

Relax – This is one word to never use in high stress situations! Avoid telling others to “relax” or “calm down”; this typically only enhances their roar!

S.M.A.R.T – Create a S.M.A.R.T plan – Set specific goals that are measurable, rewarding and trackable. For example: “Each day that I reach my stress management goal, I will deposit five dollars into my vacation fund.”

Talk – If something is bothering you, find someone who has a few minutes just to listen.

Unwind – Take the time to spend a few minutes each day on an activity that you enjoy, whether that be reading, exercising, or listening to music.

Variety – Add some variety into an otherwise routine life. Plan a vacation or weekend getaway, do something just for you!

Work – Spend some time working on your favorite hobby or fun task. Or take a class and learn something new!

X – Exercise is one of the best stress relievers! Try to incorporate a few minutes of exercise into your daily routine and gradually increase the time you spend on exercise each day. Refuse the urge to ride the elevator! Use stairs whenever possible!

Yesterday – Don’t dwell on the past! Live in the moment and learn to embrace what is right in front of you.

Zzz’s – Get plenty of sleep! Know your body and how much sleep you require. Lack of sleep will leave you feeling sluggish and less productive than normal.

Allyson Wynne is a Professional Development Manager with Citibank – The Student Loan Corporation. She regularly presents seminars for financial aid office personnel.