All of us like to stay connected with the rest of the world for various reasons. It is for safety, socializing or communication purposes. We have a lot of options on land to stay connected, but most of these do not work on sea. The network works only for a few kilometers near the shore. This is where a maritime satellite network comes into the picture.

Maritime satellite offers ways to stay connected on sea with other fleet members or with people on land at a reasonable rate. The International Maritime Organisation (IMO), a UN body, set up the International Maritime Satellite Organization (Inmarsat) as a nonprofit organization. The main aim of setting up Inmarsat was to give a satellite network for communication between vessels. This would give a great opportunity to find and save ships in distress. Over the years, the organization became private and began serving commercial fleets with means to stay connected on sea. Slowly other companies like Iridium and Globalstar also launched maritime satellite networks.

Services like voice calling, email, internet access and information related to weather and fishing they offer on a maritime satellite network. Apart from these regular services, some vessels also use it to keep the shore companies informed of their location. Distress signaling is an important reason for adopting satellite network on sea.

Voice calling enables people on sea to call up their counterparts or family on land and keep them informed as well as enquire their whereabouts. Inmarsat and Iridium offer voice calling services. Commercial vessels use the voice calling for daily business operations.

Satellite phone email they have for updating the place, or sending emails. It can also be used for social networking or updating blogs. Vessels now prefer Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) to voice calling to take advantage of the lower data rates. A judicious choice will make sure the best payback of more talk time with less data exchange. Satellite VoIP also makes crew calling easier with prepaid cards as an available option irrespective of the satellite provider.

Internet access is also provided the maritime satellite but the end users should definitely have a firewall router to increase speed, prevent unwanted downloads and thus an inflated bill. Thus a maritime satellite network offers services for every kind of need on the sea; it is now up to you to make optimum use of the available resources by choosing the correct plan and equipment.

Even monsters like the vampire Thomas Raith do a good deed occasionally and Jim Butcher’s twelve-thousand word limited edition novelette “Backup” from the incomparable Subterranean Press details one of Thomas’s more altruistic deeds. Based on Butcher’s bestselling Dresden Files series, “Backup” is a rare event in the Dresden universe. Unlike the novels which are told exclusively from Harry Dresden’s perspective, “Backup” is told by Raith. It’s a behind-the-scenes type story in which the narrating character’s actions secretly help a hero accomplish his objective. Without the narrator’s intervention, the hero would normally be in grave peril, an unknowing damsel-in-distress. Playing the damsel-in-distress here (minus the melodramatic fainting) is Harry, who just happens to be Raith’s younger brother.

So proving that blood is thicker than mayhem-making, Thomas is lead into goodness in order to look out for Harry. Things start out innocently enough with an email to Thomas from the White Court. Something very urgent that requires his immediate attention has come up, forcing Thomas to meet with a courier who will fill him in on all the juicy details.

On meeting the courier, Thomas finds out that his good-hearted brother has taken on a new case. Harry believes that he’s helping a woman find her kidnapped child, but instead he’s being unknowingly set up by the Stygian Sisterhood. Now the Sisterhood and vampires have a rather intense hatred of each other; the two groups currently engaged in a silent war. So finding and destroying members of the Stygian Sisterhood is high up on Thomas’s to-do list. But he also wants to watch his brother’s back, hopefully keeping Harry out of hot water with the Sisterhood. Frustrated, Thomas only hopes these two objectives aren’t mutually exclusive.

Make no mistake; even though “Backup” is told from Thomas’s point of view, Butcher’s novelette is pure Dresden Files. Filled with the combination of goofy humor and fast-paced action that Butcher’s novels have become famous for, “Backup” starts quickly and equally ends quickly. The biggest disappointment, in fact, is how fast the whole reading experience goes. It would have been nice to see the story fleshed out more. The ending, in particular, was abrupt, which was a shame since it featured the novelette’s best scene as Thomas playacted the worse stereotypical villain imaginable.

And Thomas’s playacting isn’t the only memorable scene in the story. There’s another great scene featuring Thomas conversing with Bob, a confidante of Harry’s who happens to be a spirit living in a human skull. The interaction between Bob and Thomas is fantastic, making for an utterly entertaining scene. (But then again, just about any scene with Bob in it has a high entertainment index.)

Other than the abbreviated nature of the story, “Backup” is quite enjoyable. If you’ve never read any of the Dresden Files books, “Backup” would serve as a fine introduction to the series; however, it may not be engaging enough to coax new readers into trying Butcher’s Dresden Files novels. Butcher’s previous fans will undoubtedly love it even though it’s not a Harry-centric story.

Artist Mike Mignola, the creator of Hellboy, contributes some solid black and white art to the novelette. Mignola’s work is always unique and stylistic; nothing else looks quite like it. However, while the art is interesting, I didn’t find it adding much to the proceedings. It is the type of quality artwork though which Subterranean Press has become known for in its limited editions, so the inclusion of Mignola’s drawings is more a matter of presentation than narrative function.

Last Word:
“Backup” is a wonderful little jaunt through the Dresden Files universe, most noticeable for the fact that it is told from the perspective of Harry’s older brother, Thomas Raith. Filled with one great scene after another, the novelette’s biggest drawback is that it’s over so quickly. Still, it’s pure Dresden Files, which means that both fans and non-fans alike will find this a very entertaining and humorous read.

The past few years have seen an increase in mass whale stranding with New Zealand having the highest rates in the world. Stranding whether of an individual animal or mass stranding can be as a result of old age, sickness, injury, navigational error or social bonding.

Most of the stranding happen in remote and unpopulated areas and go unreported. However, there are many success stories involving rescue of stranded whales. These rescue interventions represent a lot of a serious risk to both the animal and the public.

Here are some safety tips to consider when rescuing stranded whales:

1. Inspect the stranded animal from a safe distance to establish whether it is in distress, pain or discomfort. It is important to keep people and dog at a safe distance to avoid stressing the animal further.

2. Call an expert for help. Many countries have wildlife officers who are trained on how to handle stranding emergencies who work closely with qualified veterinary officers. People such as the local marine mammal stranding network or wildlife staff or the police would be able to help

3. When reporting the stranded animal, be sure to inform the officer of any distress and describe what it would be. Inform them of any injuries, strange physical activities or sounds. Remember to give the exact physical location to make it easier for the rescue team to locate you.

4. Maintain a safe distance from the animal. The animal may seem helpless but it is still a wild animal which may harm you instinctively to protect itself. A whale is a powerful animal which can cause serious injury to people should they roll in the water. In addition, the stressed animal may thrash its tail putting you at risk of getting injured.

5. Avoid any form of contact with the animal as whales may carry many zoonotic diseases. But, some reason if you touch the whale for, make sure that you wash your hands thoroughly.

6. It is important not to attempt to push the whale back to the water without adequate assistance. This might result to re-stranding which might lead to severe stress, injury, and death.

7. For the safety of the animal, make sure that the blow hole at the top of its head through which the whale breaths is not blocked or underwater. With adequate assistance, you may gently roll the whale, which might be lying on its side, onto their belly to make sure that the blowhole is facing upwards.

8. It is advisable to constantly pour buckets of water onto the whale skin all the while keeping clear of the blowhole. This helps to keep their skin wet and cool as plans are being made to return the stranded animal to the water.

9. If you have access to water-soaked burlap bags you can cover the whale’s skin to protect the skin form drying and shield it from sunburn. Be careful not to cover the blowhole and fins.

10. Stay with the whale until the rescue team arrives. They might need information about what happened at the scene before their arrival.

The purpose of aiding stranded whales is to get it back into the water. You should follow the instructions of the experts, who have the necessary training to care for such animals. In some cases it may be possible to push the whale back in the water but you must be careful not to harm the animal.

Did you ever notice that usually our wants don’t satisfy us once we are in the midst of receiving them? This is usually because we are insatiable on the one hand and unsatisfied on the other. But what is more, the more choices we have, the worse we feel, and the more anxious we feel.

Once upon a time, when we went out to buy a box of cereal, we only had a few choices. Now it seems that there are thirty different varieties of cereal, and it seems that they are coming up with more flavours on a weekly basis. Wasn’t it easier when we could go to the store and just have one or two types of cereal?

The success of modernity is bittersweet because of the overabundance of choice. Having too many choices causes psychological distress, especially when it is combined with regret, comparison and the desire to have the best of everything.

There are steps we can take to mitigate many sources of distress. But they are not easy to follow. They require discipline, practise, and a new way of thinking.

Here are a few things you could try to avoid the stress of choice as much as possible:

1. Choose when to choose and when not to choose

Choice is essential to our overall well-being. However, too much choice has negative results for us. To manage excessive choice, we must decide which choices in our lives really matter and focus our time and energy there, letting other opportunities pass by.

2. Be a chooser not a picker

Choosers are people who are able to reflect on what makes a decision important. Perhaps none of the options should be chosen or a new option should be created. Pickers simply are passive selectors from whatever is available. Choosers take time to modify their goals, while pickers do not modify them. Choosers don’t follow the herd while pickers do. Good decisions take time and attention. So, be a chooser, and you will feel less stress.

3. Satisfice more and maximize less

Maximizers suffer the most in a culture where we have too many choices. Maximizers worry most about regret, missed opportunities, and social comparisons. We have to learn to accept good enough. This will amplify our satisfaction. It is often hard to embrace good enough especially since we live in a culture of more. The trick is to embrace and appreciate satisficing.

4. Practise an attitude of gratitude

Our evaluation of our choices is profoundly affected by what we compare them with, including comparisons that exist only in our imaginations. Focus on the good aspects of an experience instead of the negative ones. By doing this, you can improve your subjective experience by consciously striving to be grateful about your choices.

By taking these steps, you will be destressing about choice and you will be able to enjoy the culture of plenty we live in as well as be able to step back and not be paralyzed by the ubiquity of choice.

Any successful program of divorce recovery must eliminate any resistance to change which threatens a successful transition from being married to being single.

The 3 Stages of Transition in the Divorce Recovery Process

Resistance to change, experienced as emotion-based pain, fear, and uncertainty, can be traced to one’s reluctance to: (1) accept divorce as a life-altering fact of life so that you can, (2) make the necessary adjustments and changes that will, (3) enable you to be happy and successful in the next chapter of your life.

The process for dissolving this natural, human resistance to embracing and thriving in your new life situation includes the following 3 stages:

(1) STABILIZE your emotional reactions to your ex and to getting divorced.

(2) RELEASE your fear of an unknown future and your distress over your losses; and

(3) PREPARE for the future, including your next committed relationship.

Stage 1 – Stabilize Your Reactions to the Divorce

This stage is more emotion-based than logic-based.

First, you must stabilize your present emotion-based reactions to your divorce, your ex, and to your life after divorce. It does not matter whether the divorce is in progress, recently concluded, or happened years ago.

This stage is necessary because your emotion-based reactions distort reality and make it almost impossible to solve the tangible problems you face in your daily life after divorce. In addition, your emotional reactions act like “super glue” holding you firmly attached to the life you used to lead in the past, but no longer have.

Stage 2 – Release Your Fear and Your Distress Over Loss

In this stage emotion and logic are equally important.

There were aspects of your past life that were enjoyable, especially in the beginning. No one, and I mean NO one, wants to give up good things in a relationship. We are all reluctant to fully accept our new life situation after our divorce because it also means giving up the good parts too.

However, the harsh reality is that your past life you shared with your ex no longer exists. It is no longer your current life.

In this stage you dissolve the attachments to the past you no longer need – while keeping those parts of the past that are still useful. You dissolve your resistance to change by confronting and “right sizing” your fears and grieving your losses, the real losses, not the perceived ones. With the completion of this stage, the debilitating effects of your emotion-based reactions are dissolved, allowing you to prepare for your future.

Stage 3 – Prepare for the Future Including Your Next Committed Relationship

This stage is more logic-based than emotion-based.

This is the most logical part of the transition process. In this stage you develop your plan for the future, including all four areas of your life: finances, health, love, and self-development/self-expression. Special attention is given to insuring your next committed relationship will escape the same fate as your last relationship.

It may sound counterintuitive to describe the process of finding your next committed relationship as “more logic-based than emotion-based.” In fact, our culture tells us just the opposite. That finding the “love of your life” is totally a function of your emotions. “Listen to your heart” we are told.

However, chemistry can exist between individuals who are perfect for a one-night stand, or even a six-month fling, but who are totally wrong for each other in a long-term relationship. In this stage we accept the necessity of chemistry. You must find someone you are attracted to. That is easy. Just listen to your body.

However, when looking for your next long-term “soul mate,” you need to use your head as well as your heart. Specifically, you must be clear on what your require, not just what you want, in a relationship and apply some cold, hard logical analysis to determine whether a relationship with a potential partner can deliver what you require in the long run.

The goal: Make your last divorce your last divorce.

The Consequences of Ignoring One or More of the Stages

Each of the three stages is critical to having a successful recovery from divorce. The exclusion of any stage will sabotage the entire effort to have a full and complete recovery.

Failure to stabilize your reactions to divorce results in remaining stuck in your pain. For example, folks who are still angry at their ex and the hell he or she put them through – even years after the divorce was final – have not yet fully stabilized their emotional reactions to the ending of the marriage.

My sister-in-law is an example. She held on to her anger at her ex for 25 years saying, “How could he have done that to me, the SOB?” She died young without ever experiencing another loving, committed relationship during the last two and a half decades of her life.

Needless to say, when you are focused on what someone did to you in the past, and who is no longer in your life, it makes it almost impossible to give the present the attention it deserves in order to make your life satisfying and rewarding.

Failure to release the past results in remaining stuck in fear and grief. People can get stuck in their inability to release their fear of an unknown future and/or their distress over what they feel they lost when their relationship ended – even though what they objectively lost is almost always much less than what they think they lost. We listen to them tell us how their life used to be good, but no longer can be because of all they lost in the divorce.

The thought that they should accept the reality that the relationship is over, and they should focus their energy on how to realize all the potential for good in their new, present life situation is frightening to them because “How do I know things won’t be even worse if I do?” They are paralyzed by fear and unable to take even a modest risk in order to reclaim the happiness they once enjoyed.

Failure to prepare for the future results in getting divorced again. This preparation involves treating mate selection as a conscious choice that requires that we logically ask ourselves, “What do I require in a partner and how does that differ from what I simply want in a partner?”

Our culture tells us we should “listen to our heart” because “love conquers all.” We are told that to look at a relationship as a logical problem to be solved insults the spiritual and magical nature of all until-death-do-us-part committed relationships. The most likely result? Another visit to divorce court.

While the divorce rate for first marriages is high enough at 42%, the divorce rate of 2nd and 3rd marriages are an astounding 66% and 75% respectively! The takeaway is simple: If we allow our head to have as much influence as our heart, the odds are good that our choice of a committed relationship will be satisfying in the long run, not just temporary eye candy that has no staying power.

Otherwise, we are more than likely to end up in divorce court again.

So, What’s the Point?

You must accept the necessity of having some work to do. But you can relax in the knowledge that you know what you need to do and why. While it may seem daunting at the beginning, know that if you follow this process you will be able to recover from your divorce up to 10 time faster than the normal divorce recovery process in widespread practice today – with the long-term prognosis of finding a new relationship that actually lasts very promising.

A hot topic here in Miami is distressed real estate. With all of the foreclosures and REO (real estate owned) properties on the market for sale, there are good deals to be had. The FHA 203k loan, sometimes called energy efficient mortgage or EEM for short, is a program that is available to help you purchase a distressed property and rehabilitate with energy-efficient “green” improvements.

It’s no secret that many of the foreclosures or REO properties have deferred maintenance. So it’s possible the electrical system does not work as it should, the hot water heater could leak, the air conditioner may need to be serviced or replaced with an energy efficient unit. Maybe the paint is dull and needs to be freshened up. All of these updates or repairs (and many more!) can be added into the cost of your mortgage, making your home more energy efficient and helping you to reduce your carbon footprint. Although there are tight lending guidelines that banks and lenders are required to follow, luckily enough there are still funds available to lend and bring these distressed properties back up to modern living standards with the FHA 203k loan. Even if you have less than perfect credit, FHA is on your side to help make your home ownership dream come true!

FHA loans are flexible when it comes to bad credit. If you have premature credit, FHA can approve a loan based on a single trade line and a single credit score, whereas conventional lending requires no less than two of the three credit scores. FHA is also great for first time home buyers who may have limited funds in the bank. The FHA 203k program allows buyers to put as little as 3.5 percent as a down payment (even though it’s a good idea to put down more). Another bonus of FHA is that you may still qualify whether or not you can demonstrate consistent work history over the previous two consecutive years. FHA loans are really forgiving.

Even prospective borrowers with more seriously damaged credit still have hope. Those with judgments, liens, collections, foreclosures or bankruptcies, who are interested in taking advantage of the distressed real estate market may still reach home ownership dreams. Here are some guidelines to follow:

–Collections – Not all collection accounts will be required to be paid prior to closing. Each collection trade line will be reviewed on a case-by-case base. If the collection still shows on your credit report, satisfaction might be requested in order to remove the negative trade lines prior to closing.

–Bankruptcy – Chapter 7 discharge of bankruptcy should be two of more years from loan application and show reestablished credit on all recent trade lines. Chapter 13 must show at least 1 year of payments to the courts after the restructure. No late payments are allowed since the bankruptcy started.

–Foreclosure – Foreclosures will not disqualify you from obtaining a FHA loan. However, buyers must typically wait a minimum of three years from the foreclosure date prior to purchasing (possibly less if you have extenuating circumstances and have established good credit).

–Liens – Federal liens are not eligible, such as a tax lien. Liens must be paid off or at minimum, a repayment plan must be established. Federal loans, such as student loans cannot be delinquent and must be brought current prior to application.

So, if you have been daydreaming about taking advantage of a good deal in the Miami real estate market, chances are that you might be in a better position than you think. You don’t need to be a bench warmer. You can play too!

You may have been told you have bipolar disorder, but you may not have been told which type you have – bipolar I or bipolar II. Even if you have, you may be wondering what the difference is between the two types.

The first thing you need to know is that there IS a difference.

According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders by the American Psychiatric Association, it is broken down as follows:

BIPOLAR I:

Single Manic Episode

The patient has had just one Manic Episode and no Major Depressive Episodes.

Most Recent Episode (MRE) Manic

The patient has had at least one Major Depressive, Manic or a Mixed Episode.

MRE Hypomanic

The patient has previously had one or more Manic or Mixed Episodes (ME).

The symptoms cause clinically important distress or impair work, social or personal functioning.

MRE Mixed

The patient’s most recent episode is of mixed mania and depression.

The survivor has had at least one Major Depressive, Mixed or Manic Episodes.

MRE Depressed

The patient has had at least one previous Manic or Mixed Episode.

MRE Unspecified

Other than duration, the patient currently or recently meets criteria for Major Depressive, Manic, Mixed, or Hypomanic episode.

The patient has had at least one previous Manic or Mixed Episode.

These symptoms cause clinically important distress or impair work, social or personal functioning.

BIPOLAR II:

The patient has had at least one Major Depressive Episode.

Or has had at least one Hypomanic Episode.

There have been no Manic or Mixed Episodes.

These symptoms cause clinically important distress or impair work, social or personal functioning.

Specify Current or Most Recent Episode: Hypomanic. Depressed.

The difference between bipolar I and bipolar II, then, is that in bipolar II there is NO manic or mixed episodes; whereas, in every case of bipolar I, there IS mania involved.

Financial distress may force a homeowner to sell his property. But there are also times when it is foreclosed by the financial institution to which the property is mortgaged. Yet, the redemption period still gives an opportunity to reown the house. However, there are risks which should be considered in order to take advantage of the stipulated time.

First, the redemption period is time-constrained. This means that the homeowner will be given a short period to reown the house after the buyer or the third-party has filed the necessary paperwork to the court. After such period, the chance to regain ownership of the house will be forfeited.

The second risk is associated with the price to regain ownership. Normally, the price tag isn’t all that should be shouldered as there are also mortgage overdue, taxes, and documentation costs. All of these should be paid within the period allotted.

Third, there are personal risks such as the capacity of the owner to raise huge amount of money to cover the necessary expenses to reown what used to be under his namesake. During the financial distress, there might be other expenses that arose such as unpaid utility bills, credit charges, and school fees. These can come on top of regular costs of daily food and travel.

There can also be associated risks that can pop up from the situation such as when relocation is an option until such time that the house is reowned. If moving out is the top choice, then there can again be expenses that could eat up the amount trying to be earned for the redemption. But there are circumstances when the third party would still allow the owner to dwell until it is redeemed or until the redemption expires.

The redemption period is like a last ticket to a must-see movie. But unlike movies which can possibly be streamed on the internet, reownership of a house is tricky. It concerns effort, time, and money. These three needs to be combined seriously along with the right mixture of perseverance in order for the redemption period to be a fruitful endeavor towards repossession of the property where memories and moments are shared and created.

If you are currently under a redemption period and you’re quite unsure of the steps to take, your friendly local real estate agent is just a call away. He will be more than happy to guide you step-by-step and will even give you advices on the situation.

The word fantasy usually brings to mind tales of a magical world where dragons, heroes and incredible lands are filled with dangers at every turn. The reality is fantasy writing is so much more than that.

A fantasy world is a world where anything can happen. Magic is real and works. Heroes do save the damsels in distress. Even mythical creatures can be found roaming around. This is only the tip of the fantasy iceberg.

There are many subgenres the fantasy writer can use to create their story, and take their work down a whole new path – a path to a whole new world. Here are some of the more popular subgenres.

Fantasy Subgenres

Heroic Fantasy – The hero is strong and skilled in fighting. The damsel is beautiful and in distress. The villain is powerful and can only be defeated by the hero, all others will fail. Mystical creatures abound and magic is part of everyday life. Often this subgenre has a medieval quality to it.

Epic Fantasy – In this subgenre the hero is an average person thrown into an extraordinary situation. He or she must complete their task or their world will be in danger of being changed forever or even destroyed. While they are often aided by people who can defend them, they usually end up being on their own to finish their quest. This tale has many characters, both for and against the hero, and a large dangerous world.

High Fantasy – This is the kind of fantasy the casual reader expects to read. This story will have lords and ladies, kingdoms and castles, and dragons and knights. A true medieval story.

Magic Realism – Magic is a way of life in this subgenre. Wizards and sorcerers are as common as blacksmiths. Magic is used, but always at some cost. This can be used on its own, or as a part of another subgenre to add an extra dimension to the character’s plight.

Dark Fantasy – This subgenre is harsher and more nightmarish than regular fantasy. Demons and evil mystical creatures run rampant. The hero must face numerous creatures sent by the villain to destroy him.

Sword and Sorcery – High adventure tales with a middle ages feel highlight this subgenre. The buff swordsman hero must defeat the evil villain to save mankind and the woman he loves.

Modern Fantasy – These are tales of might and magic set in modern times. The hero can be a present day fighter, or a warrior from the past brought here to battle an evil.

Comedic Fantasy – These can be parodies of serious fantasy stories, or fantasy stories told in a humorous way.

Any of these subgenres can be combined to make a very unique and fun fantasy story. It only depends on what you, the writer, want to do with your story idea.

Writing fantasy means knowing your genre well and following the rules without getting trapped by them. As a fantasy writer you want to spark not only your reader’s imagination, but your own as well.

“Mom, I’m, too sick to go to school today.” We joke about feigning illness to avoid school, but the illness is not always feigned. Stressors that students face each day can be just as detrimental as those faced by their parents. Yet stress management for students is not as readily available as is stress management for adults.

Charts purporting to show “who is affected by stress” list occupations. On a scale of 1 to 10, police officers rate 7.7 and teachers rate 6.2 – but students are not rated. “Student” is not considered an occupation. Online searchers type in a phrase such as “teachersjob + stress reduction” and get a fair response. Type in “stress management for students”, and the response is far less.

Too Sick to Go to School?

Stressors can and do make students sick. Stressors call forth the “fight or flight” response, and the body immediately prepares. It pours forth extra supplies of adrenalin for short-term survival. It puts functions like bowel activity on temporary hold. It redirects blood to muscles. It dilates the eyes’ pupils in order to detect slight movements. The heart speeds up its delivery of oxygen to muscles. All this and more occurs in a matter of moments so we can fight or “run like crazy”.

If the body prepares, and a student sits still, the body must undo its preparations. Lacking opportunity for stress management, it can become ill.

Sick Enough to Excel at School?

Most students find that eustress (good stress) is a positive aide in school. Certainly, too much stress causes some students to freeze during exams, but appropriate amounts of eustress can coax the best from students.

While stress management for students must be geared to specific stressors, some of them are actually eustress stressors – or could be.

Consider the following seven (7) stressors.

1. Academics: Academic pressure can be distress if it is allowed to become such. Through stress management, however, it can be eustress that urges to greater accomplishments. In this case, stress management for students demands building on academic successes. Awarding peak performance can encourage greater academic excellence.

2. Dating: Student life involves frequent focus on dating, so stress management for students will need to address both the eustress and distress of the dating game.

3. Environment: The school environment can be a distress if students are left to handle it on their own. Planned activities geared toward initial adjustment, and intermittent periods of relaxation can go far toward introducing eustress into your stress management for students.

4. Extracurricular: Many students naturally seek out extracurricular activities, and find them a source of eustress. Others feel pressured to engage in them, and suffer distress instead. Stress management for students requires careful selection of activities, and balance among these activities, school life, family life, and part-time jobs.

5. Peers: Peer pressure can be a source of eustress or distress, depending on how readily students give in to it. Students who want stress management will want to establish firm convictions, and stick to them.

6. Time Management: Stress management for students must address scheduling, since a lack in this area can impinge on most or all other areas of a student’s life. Easier for some than for others, a habit of carrying a daily planner and adhering to it can drain away much of the distress.

7. Parents: Sadly, parents themselves are to blame for a portion of student stress. It is well known that students, as they get older, seek greater degrees of independence from their parents. This is necessary if they are to become mature adults. At the same time, the struggle can causes great distress on both sides of the equation. If you want success from efforts at stress management for students, you will need to shine a spotlight on the eustress of the parent/student relationship.

Students can do much for their own stress management simply by eating a balanced diet and getting sufficient sleep. They can add to that by maintaining a schedule, including regular waking and sleeping hours.

The Best First Aid?

Exercise is probably one of the best means of stress management for students. It is also simple. When feelings of total helplessness hit, exercise feels like a helping hand. When students feel like striking out at anyone or anything near them, exercise redirects those feelings into appropriate channels. When students feel that their brains have stopped functioning, exercise can re-start the engines.

These 2 simple exercises provide first aid stress management for students.

1. Get up from your seat, walk briskly to a washroom, and splash your face with cold water. Splash it six or seven times, and include your eyes.

2. Leave your seat, and go for a five-minute walk. Consciously relax your muscles as you walk, and breathe deeply in and out – as deeply as you can without strain.

Long-term stress management for students should include a regular, daily exercise regime. Exercise tends to vent emotions like frustration and anger. Exercise also reduces the adrenaline triggered by distress, and produces endorphins that elevate eustress.

If you are a student, or are providing stress management for students, make regular exercise a priority.