How controlling your emotions can help to deal with stress

In the fast-paced world we are living in, we often feel overwhelmed and perceive our daily responsibilities as unmanageable. Whether in our professional or personal life, stressful situations often come up, making it challenging to navigate without conflict. However, in this course, participants explored both theoretical frameworks and hands-on exercises, equipping themselves with the necessary tools to effectively manage and overcome conflict and stressful situations.
 
The new edition of the course “Stress and Conflict Management: the way to resilience and satisfaction​” took place in Palermo from 28/04/2024 to 04/05/2024. We were pleased to welcome Kinga, Agnieszka, Dorota, Anna, Beata, Maria, Magdalena, Elżbieta, Agnieszka, Ewa, Sylwia, Mariola, Joanna and Anna from Publiczna Szkoła Podstawowa im. Mikołaja Kopernika w Tomaszowie in Poland in our course.

Beginning by defining the problem, participants reflected on the meaning of the word stress by thinking in groups about their work experiences. In different situations, stress is caused by varying stressors that can be connected to many factors: physical, environmental, family-related, or work-related. Yet, some bits of stress can have positive outcomes and push us to achieve our goals, for example to respect a deadline. Therefore, the participants learnt to distinguish between Distress (negative) and Eustress (positive).
Furthermore, the participants gathered strategies, both cognitive and behavioural, helping to overcome stressful situations in the workplace. They had the opportunity to practice their planning and time management skills through group activities and collaborative games. To better handle stressful situations, they practiced breathing exercises, muscle relaxation and visualisation.
During the course, participants learned about the crucial topic of empathy, recognizing it as a basis skill for conflict resolution. Demonstrating empathy can be challenging sometimes, particularly when we haven't directly experienced the emotions of those we interact with. Yet through practice, participants learned to recognize empathic responses from others.

Effective communication appears as another essential aspect of conflict resolution. Through interactive activities, participants explored various communication styles and collaborated in resolving conflicts within a group setting. Although it can be difficult to solve a conflict, the activity showed how such moments let students and teachers grow and learn. It is a valuable insight applicable both in professional settings and classrooms. In the end, the course not only equipped participants with the necessary tools to navigate stressful situations but also underscored the potential for positive outcomes amid conflict.

Discover more about this course here.