Finding balance amidst the chaos 

April is Stress Awareness Month; a great opportunity to assess the sources of stress in your life, learn about effective coping skills and work on ways to reduce the stress you experience on a daily basis.

Many of us feel stress

Stress is a natural response to the world around you. Be it work, finances, an event, academics, family — or the recent COVID-19 health crisis — Canadians are stressed out. And if you feel isolated in your stress, know that you’re not alone. In fact, a recent study reported that 27 per cent of Canadians claim to have high to extreme levels of stress on a daily basis. An additional 46 per cent report that they feel “a bit” of stress on a day-to-day basis.

Regardless of where your stress level falls on the spectrum, prolonged stress increases the risk of many illnesses, including depression, heart disease and substance abuse. A key prevention tactic is watching for physical and mental signs that you’re stressed out, and recognizing that you have the power to make decisions to effectively manage your stress level.

Stress can present itself in many ways, including:

• Muscle tension
• Headaches
• Restless sleep
• Stomach and digestive problems
• Poor concentration
• Racing thoughts
• Low productivity
• Forgetfulness
• Irritability
• Anxiety
• Mood swings

We’ve all experienced some of these signs in our lives brought on by varying degrees of stress. But if you have been experiencing these signs over a prolonged time, it may be an indicator that you have an unhealthy level of stress and you should take steps to eliminate the stressors.

Managing stress as a studentMost students experience significant amounts of stress, and this stress can take a significant toll on health, happiness, and grades. At MCG Career College, the success and well-being of our students is fundamental to who we are. In fact, MCG was founded on Ayurvedic medicine principles, which teach us that health and wellness depend on a delicate balance between the mind, body and spirit. We have a vision of applying this idea to elevating health and wellness training programs, and extending it into the lives of students.

Through cutting-edge training, top instruction and flexible program structures, MCG pushes beyond the scope of a traditional training institution. We get to know our students, we enlighten them to align the mind and body, to bring balance within themselves and others. Not only do our students graduate with the skills and confidence they need to become successful leaders, but they complete our programs with their health intact and their smiles bright.

Bring balance back Beyond the classroom, there are many things you can do to prevent and manage stress in your life, including:

• Being active
• Eating well
• Manage your time
• Resting and relaxing
• Getting hellp

If you’re a prospective student looking for work/life balance — and a low-stress academic environment — learn more about MCG College and our flexible, distance-learning courses.