Yesterday the JA Business Week students participated in a workshop, sponsored by Kaiser Permanente, that introduced them to the many different techniques and skills for reducing stress. The truth is that stress is going to happen in your life and knowing the methods to reduce and manage that stress is a skill that will benefit these students for their entire life.
The presenters perspective was that the happier you are the more productive and effective you will be in the tasks that you are presented with. With happiness and reduced stress one is able to make clearer choices and be more supportive of those around them.
The students discussed the different situations that make them stressed out. The mentioned: parents, social “drama”, competition, overreacting to certain situations, siblings, school, sports…just to name a few. They feel the stress internally, which is typical for all people.
They were presented with the idea of self regulation when it comes to reducing stress. This is regulating your thinking, interpretation, actions and behaviors when you are in stressful situations. Conscious self regulation tasks can be anything from exercise to playing music.
After these ideas were discussed the students were able to learn some yoga and breathing techniques in order to lower their stress. As the students practiced basic yoga poses they seemed a little uncomfortable at first, but then began to enjoy the activity. In the end, they were given some valuable skill, techniques and awareness that will help them not only reduce the stress in their life now, but for many years to come.
Area high school students looking for a something fun to do this summer and wanting a real life experience in the business world are invited to participate in Junior Achievement’s (JA) Business Week.