In Australia stress is a part of daily life, but most people do not know how to deal with it healthily and efficiently enough for the stress to have a minimal effect. The health effects of stress and the more serious cases of chronic stress can lead to detrimental mental and physical conditions, some irreversible (Mayo Clinic, 2013). To help stop this epidemic, a group of students and myself organised an activity in order to decrease the stress in our school environment. Schools are one of the most stressful places for a teenager so we decided to target that stress so they can focus on assessments and exams that were coming up in the next term. In recent times schools and the government are not putting enough resources into reducing stress
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We focused on foods that assist in dealing with stress. We chose dark chocolate and decaffeinated green tea which are both known for their ability to soothe and relieve stress. On the Friday before school holidays, we set up a stall at recess and lunch using two tables and a tablecloth [See Figure 1], the theme of the set up was blue, due to blue being a universally known ‘calm’ colour (Angela Wright, 2015). Posters were hung up around the school in order to advertise the event and help a wider range of people in the school. We gave 1 cup of green tea and 1 square of dark chocolate for each student, as well as stress balls donated from a local business and pamphlets with information such as how to deal with stress, where to get help if overwhelmed stress, other stress relieving foods and other general facts about stress and its causes. As a safety consideration, we poured the tea ourselves so students would not spill and be at risk of harming others. In total we had 50 cups of green tea, 50 pieces of chocolate, 47 stress balls, 50 pamphlets and a serviette with each piece of chocolate. All stress balls, cups of tea and chocolate were gone by the end of the second session. Our group worked well together in all stages of the preparation and execution of the activity. We all worked together well and we got all the equipment in on time, even so, there could …show more content…
Currently there are programs being put into place that reduce student stress through meditation but that is currently the most effective strategy in place (Carolyn Gregiore, 2013). Due to the large amounts of assessment given, students are overwhelmed with work and homework on top of that. In recent year the education requirements have increased the amount of assessments largely with many students not being able to hand them in on time or not being able to give their best work due to the mere two weeks that are assigned for a 1000-word essay. This could be reduced by government action in changing the curriculum and allowing for progression learning rather than having essays as their main form of assessment. Classes should consist of learning new skills and acquiring new knowledge rather than learning subjects that are only needed for future tests, exams and assignments. In the future, more In work places, the anti-stress guidelines [http://www.fairwork.gov.au/employee-entitlements/bullying-and-harassment] need to be enforced more strictly in general
We focused on foods that assist in dealing with stress. We chose dark chocolate and decaffeinated green tea which are both known for their ability to soothe and relieve stress. On the Friday before school holidays, we set up a stall at recess and lunch using two tables and a tablecloth [See Figure 1], the theme of the set up was blue, due to blue being a universally known ‘calm’ colour (Angela Wright, 2015). Posters were hung up around the school in order to advertise the event and help a wider range of people in the school. We gave 1 cup of green tea and 1 square of dark chocolate for each student, as well as stress balls donated from a local business and pamphlets with information such as how to deal with stress, where to get help if overwhelmed stress, other stress relieving foods and other general facts about stress and its causes. As a safety consideration, we poured the tea ourselves so students would not spill and be at risk of harming others. In total we had 50 cups of green tea, 50 pieces of chocolate, 47 stress balls, 50 pamphlets and a serviette with each piece of chocolate. All stress balls, cups of tea and chocolate were gone by the end of the second session. Our group worked well together in all stages of the preparation and execution of the activity. We all worked together well and we got all the equipment in on time, even so, there could …show more content…
Currently there are programs being put into place that reduce student stress through meditation but that is currently the most effective strategy in place (Carolyn Gregiore, 2013). Due to the large amounts of assessment given, students are overwhelmed with work and homework on top of that. In recent year the education requirements have increased the amount of assessments largely with many students not being able to hand them in on time or not being able to give their best work due to the mere two weeks that are assigned for a 1000-word essay. This could be reduced by government action in changing the curriculum and allowing for progression learning rather than having essays as their main form of assessment. Classes should consist of learning new skills and acquiring new knowledge rather than learning subjects that are only needed for future tests, exams and assignments. In the future, more In work places, the anti-stress guidelines [http://www.fairwork.gov.au/employee-entitlements/bullying-and-harassment] need to be enforced more strictly in general