It’s time for another edition of Weekend Reads!
This month, we’re focusing on ways to manage stress, in recognition of Stress Awareness Month.
Stress is a natural response to life experiences, that affects almost everyone. There’s good stress that can motivate you to complete tasks, and then there’s bad stress, which has the complete opposite effect. At high levels, stress can have an negative impact on your physical and mental health.
According to The American Institute of Stress, about 33% of people report feeling extreme stress, 77% of people experience stress that affects their physical health, 73% of people have stress that impacts their mental health and 48% of people have trouble sleeping because of stress.
In recognition of Stress Awareness Month, the SLN has put together a list of resources and reads for you below. Explore more resources and tools on SiblingLeadership.org.
SLN | SLN PODCAST #7 SIBLING SELF-CARE & THE HOLIDAYS
It may not be the holidays, but stressors don’t take a break, making self-care essential year round. Host and sibling Chris Berstler speaks with self-care professionals Shruti Tekwani, Kaley Day & Aubrey Thorton to discuss what self-care is for siblings, how the holidays can impact us and helpful tips to get your own self-care routine started.
The Philadelphia Inquirer | “Caregivers have a tough job that needs to start with self-care. These tips can help.”
“Caregivers do everything from performing special medical needs to paying the bills, shopping, cooking, cleaning, and being a person’s closest confidante…There are days when I feel utterly helpless and useless, giving my all, yet it never seems enough. Caring for my mum is not unpleasant and is often rewarding, but it can be tiring — and sad. Eventually, I realized something on a deeply personal level and I’d been advising clients for years: Caring for others requires that you first take care of yourself. Otherwise, physical and mental exhaustion can so easily lead to guilt, anger, confusion, resentment and worse.”
Make Use Of | 5 Practical Tech Tips for Stress Awareness Month
“To protect your physical and mental wellbeing, give these stress-busting techniques a shot with support from your smartphone.”
For more resources, check out SLN’s Resources for Adult Siblings