Stress is a common problem that arises when faced with pressure. Anisa Yuliandri, S.Psi., M.Psi., a psychologist at the Career and Student Development Centre (CSDU), Faculty of Economics and Business UGM, discussed strategies to reduce the adverse effects of stress through mindfulness techniques.
Speaking at the Mindfulness as a Stress Management Strategy workshop on Thursday, 21 November, at FEB UGM, Anisa explained that stress is a state of worry or mental tension caused by difficult situations. Several factors can trigger stress, including environmental, social, physiological, and psychological factors.
Anisa mentioned that stress does not always trigger adverse reactions but can lead to positive responses. Positive reactions help individuals to be ready to face challenges, while adverse reactions can lead to physical and mental health problems. “How a person reacts to a stressful event significantly impacts their well-being,” she added.
Anisa used the glass analogy to explain how a person can manage sources of stress. A person can choose to reduce the contents of the glass by focusing on solving one problem at a time, avoiding toxic environments, or limiting exposure to stressors. Alternatively, a person can increase the size of the glass by increasing their capacity by sharing experiences with others, learning from experiences, and improving their perspective on problems.
She also introduced mindfulness as being aware of the present moment, consciously paying attention to, accepting, and being aware of how things are right now.
“When people are unaware of their thoughts and feelings, they tend to react impulsively to stress, making it easy to be overwhelmed by emotions,” Anisa explained.
She continued that through mindfulness, individuals can become aware of the moment and choose to respond. This practice helps them better control their stress.
At the end of the session, Anisa invited the students to practice the Mindful Cup. Participants were asked to write down their feelings over the past week on paper and place them in a cup. They were then asked to analyze these feelings individually and reflect on their actions to reduce them.
Reportase: Orie Priscylla Mapeda Lumalan
Editor: Kurnia Ekaptiningrum
Sustainable Development Goals
