2.5 A healthy lifestyle in handling stress

Life orientation

Grade 8

Handling stress

Module 10

A healthy lifestyle in handling stress

Activity 6:

Remember, it is not necessarily the things that cause stress that determine your life – it is how you handle stress!

Having a healthy lifestyle is surely one of the most important ways in which to prevent stress. Yes, it does sound very basic and dull – and old? But be assured, there are no substitutes for common sense and a healthy lifestyle.

All the books (and, alas, your mother) say, “Eat your vegetables and your fruit”. They are quite right. Your diet is of the utmost importance in preventing stress. The B vitamins are your stress controllers. They give you more fighting power against stress. We are not going to go into detail about the nutritional advantages of each type of foodstuff, as this isn’t the place for it, but eat regularly and follow a healthy diet! When one goes on a strict diet, one’s meta

bolism slows down, and when the diet is ended, one puts on weight much more easily. When you don’t eat enough, you feel agitated and irritable, because your blood-sugar levels are low. If you stuff yourself full of starches and sugars, your energy drops shortly after you experience the “sugar rush”, and you become tired and bad-tempered. Therefore it is wise to eat small amounts of healthy foods every now and then, and you will see that you will be lean and lovely.

1. Which vitamins are especially important as preventers of stress?

2. Do some research and write down five foods that are rich in these vitamins.

3. Do you eat enough of these foods? Write down what you eat for two days and see what you eat.

Glasses of water per day: ......................... (more or less)

4. Analysis of own eating habits (in other words, say whether you think that your eating habits are healthy or not; give reasons):

5. Plan for PORTFOLIO. Use two sheets of paper and make two collages: one of your absolutely favourite foods, and the other of the healthiest foods that you can get hold of.

Then write a comparative analysis (show how the two collages differ). That will indicate whether you know what healthy foods are or not. Enjoy it! (The activity, not the food!)

6. Why is a strict diet often undesirable?

7. What is the best way to eat?

8. Which is the healthiest: chips (French fries) or a jacket potato (boiled with its peel still on)? Why?

[LO 3.1]

Read on.

To be optimally healthy and happy one must get enough rest and sleep. Some of us are night owls and prefer to work late at night. Others are morning people who choose to be productive early in the morning. Most people function well if they have about eight hours’ sleep per night. Don’t stress about one or two nights. When insomnia carries on for too long, take a look at the plans we have given you under the heading “Sleeping problems”. Sleeping tablets and alcohol make you feel more tired than ever in the mornings. Soothing music is calming, and a candle (in a safe place) is better than electric lighting or a flickering television screen.

4. Are you a morning person or a night owl?

5. How long do you sleep (on average) at night?

6. Do you feel rested when you wake up?

7. Does your bedtime differ greatly from that of the rest of the family? Does it cause problems?

8. Are there times when you “do your own thing” peacefully on your own? Or can’t you keep yourself busy, and must there always be other people around you?

• In which box do you belong?

[LO 3.1]

Assessment

Memorandum

Activity 6:

The value of a healthy lifestyle in handling stress

Analysis of learner’s eating habits: two collages for portfolio

plus comparative analysis (insight of learner is assessed)

Analysis of passive / active / restlessness