Botswana: Stress Management Ideal for Healthy Living

Bobonong — A guidance and counselling teacher at Agosi Primary School in Bobonong has urged Bobonong Brigade staff and students to learn to manage stress for a healthy well-being.

Speaking during the Bobonong Brigade Centre wellness day recently, Ms Eunice Sutlhe said stress has the potential to cause devastating effects such paralysis and permanent disability.

She noted that people react differently to stressful situations and added that stress management could help people to control their stress levels.

Ms Sutlhe also added that for one to control stress, there was a need to establish sources of stress. She said engaging in activities such as exercising and social activities could assist in managing stress.

She therefore urged people to take exercising as a lifestyle and to join social clubs. She added that discussing stressful situations with others was important because it acts as a therapy to stress.

She also noted that stressful situations could not be avoided, but could be reduced.

She advised Bobonong Brigade staff and students to avoid activities that could bring stress such as being in the wrong company of people. She also advised them to accept situations that they could not change such as the death of a family member.

Ms Sutlhe said those that drink should do so responsibly, and that those in relationships should be faithful.

Another way of reducing stress, she said, was for people to write down their personal experiences. She also stressed the need to eat healthy food to nourish the body and mind.

Earlier, Bobonong Brigade Centre deputy principal, Mr Thabo Mathala said the wellness day was an important event in the calendar of the institution in order to focus on the well-being of staff and students.

Mr Mathala advised students and staff to look after their bodies jealously, and to adopt a healthy lifestyle by going for regular medical checkups.

He said by so doing a lot of money used to treat non communicable diseases could be channelled to other needs to grow the economy. The wellness day was held under the theme: My health my priority.