Stress Relief Resources

1. Make sure you are meeting your basic needs. Make sure you are getting enough time to eat, drink and sleep to keep your immune system up. This is essential to all employees and students at UAMS.
2. Take breaks! Whether it be to take a walk or simply make a phone call to a friend or loved one, get your brain engaged in something else to help.
   • Mindfulness sessions are available on the UAMS Mindfulness Program’s website on demand. Anytime you may need to reset your mind, you can watch them from your phone or desktop.
   • There are numerous walking paths on campus to help you get out and de-stress. If you feel you are on one of the hospital floors and feel you need to remain there, Get Healthy UAMS has pre-measured walking pathways on every F and H wing in the patient tower. You can find the map with the distance in your area by the stairwells on the F-wing side on each floor.
   • Get outside! When you can, get out and enjoy nature. Keep social distancing in mind, but stay active. There are lots of exercise videos you can find online and hiking can be great for you to walk out some tension. Other activities suggested most recently by our governor were to go fishing and enjoy our naturally beautiful state.
3. Connect with others. These services are available to those at UAMS and UAMS employees and students who are at home.
   • UAMS has developed a special service called Supportive Conversations. Through this service, employees and students at UAMS can call and speak with someone who is trained to listen and help you to either de-stress or to listen and guide you to a licensed social worker through EAP, Faculty Wellness or Student Wellness. If you just feel the need to talk, our Supportive Conversation specialists are here and ready to listen. Call 501-686-6890 to speak with a supportive conversations coach 24/7.
   • This can also be achieved by reaching out to friends and loved ones to talk. Don’t isolate yourself even if you are at home in quarantine. You can call, email, text, chat and video chat to stay connected.
   • Talk with coworkers and lean on each other for support. If you see someone struggling, don’t be afraid to reach out and check in on them. If you are very concerned, contact your supervisor and get help in assisting this co-worker with all the resources available. It’s easy to get wrapped up in work and worry, keep our kindness glasses on and search for those in need too.
4. Respect Differences. Some need to connect and some need to be alone to cope. If you reach out and someone tells you they are fine and need space to cope, allow that but still be mindful of their behavior. Look for actions that would be cause for concern.
5. Stay Updated. Make sure to read all the updates from the UAMS announcements, the COVID-19 Taskforce and Dr. Patterson. These updates will have the most real-time information available to us!
6. Limit Media Exposure. Graphic imagery and worrisome messages will do nothing but increase your stress and anxiety and not your knowledge of what is going on.
7. Self Check-ins. Monitor yourself for signs of heightened stress and anxiety. It’s easy at this time to think and worry for others, but we cannot pour from and empty cup. We must take care and monitor ourselves and seek help when needed.
8. Honor your service and the service of others. Use the online recognition tool kit to spotlight and thank people around you that are doing a good job. Give people compliments, smile, be kind. Most importantly- remember that what you do at UAMS is important to all and we need you to function and succeed! Thank you for being part of Team UAMS.

Resources for this article adapted for UAMS from an article written by the Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress.

Don’t forget! If you are not feeling well, UAMS HealthNOW is here for you.