Stress and How it Impacts You

Keagan Ruttan [Student]

Agenda
5 Minutes Greetings and Recap of Previous Session
5 Minutes Activity 1: Writing Activity: Crumple the stress
15 Minutes Activity 2: Art Activity: Draw What Stress Feel Like to You
5 Minutes Teach How Stress Impact the Body Both Physically and Mentally
10 Minutes Body Break!
5 Minutes Talk About Current Strategies for Stress Management
10 Minutes Activity 3: Relaxation Activity: Leaves on a Stream
5 Minutes Evaluation and Clean Up

Detailed Plan
5 Minutes The facilitator will greet everyone and ask who remembers anything from the
previous session. This will recap the events for those who forgot and ensure that those who may
not have attended the first session know what the topic of the program is and any important
information.
5 Minutes Activity 1: Writing Activity—Crumple the stress. Participants will each get a piece of
paper or multiple papers to write down everything that causes them stress. After everyone is done
writing, the participants will be asked to crumple the paper which will symbolize the stress that
comes from the things listed. A discussion will then follow relating to stress and how people deal
with stress.
15 Minutes Activity 2: Art Activity—Draw What Stress Feels Like to You. Participants will be
given paper and art supplies and asked to draw what stress feels like to them. This will lead into
the short lesson of the day about how stress impacts people.
5 Minutes The facilitator will educate the group on how stress impacts a person, both physically
and mentally. This way participants understand how stress can fully impact a person, and why it
is important to learn about. Includes a handout which includes all this information on it for future
reference for the participants to refer to.
10 Minutes: Body Break! Allow participants to get up, stretch their legs, use the bathroom, get
some water, or a small snack if they want.
5 Minutes The group will discuss how they currently handle stress, and any stress management
strategies they have. Each participant will have an opportunity to share their ideas, but it is not
mandatory.
10 Minutes Activity 3: Relaxation Activity—Leaves on a Stream Meditation. The facilitator will
guide participants through a guided imagery meditation called “Leaves on a Stream.”
Participants will follow along to the instructions through the calming scenario.
5 Minutes The participants will receive an exit card in the form of a paper to fill out to review
the session, their knowledge gained and how helpful the second session was. It will also give
space for clients to give feedback for any changes or things that they really enjoyed about the
session. During this time the facilitator will clean up anything necessary to allow for the space to
be available for future use.

Evaluation
The evaluation for this session will be written on an exit card piece of paper.
Activity 1: Writing Activity
Title: Crumple the Stress

Purpose:
The purpose of the “Crumple the Stress” activity is to give participants a visual
demonstration on how stress impacts multiple different areas in a person’s life. This will give
participants the understanding of how important it is to learn about stress management and how
stress impacts their day-to-day life.

Age and Size:

This activity is best suited for a small group of 3-6 participants ages ranging from 17 to
19 years old.

Timing:
The time given for this activity is 5 minutes.

Materials:
- Something to write with (I.e. pens, pencils, markers, etc)
- Paper

Instructions:
- Ensure all participants have a piece of paper and something to write with.
- Give participants 2 minutes to write everything down that causes them stress (For
example, school, family, job, etc).
- Once everyone is done writing, have the participants crumple their paper.
- Next, have them try to uncrumple to paper and try to flatten it out again.
- Explain to them how the paper will never become completely flat again because they put
pressure and force into crumpling it.
- Explain how this is similar to how stress impacts a person, but in time through learning
different stress management techniques the wrinkles will become less and they will be
able to handle it more.

Cautions:
Possibility of participants getting paper cuts from the paper. Also, a possibility of clients
becoming more stressed by thinking about what causes them stress. Thus, needing to be aware of
safety is at utmost importance especially during this activity.

Adaptations:
You can do this with multiple smaller papers and each paper can have a different stressor
on it. There are also similar ways to demonstrate stress in a visual way, such as using a water
bottle.

Resources: N/A
Evidence:
The Crumple the Stress activity “promotes emotional recognition and understanding.”
(Kessler, 2022). This activity is important because it gives participants a visual way of
understanding how stress impacts them and a free space to talk about what causes them stress.

References:
Kessler, T. (2022). “Snowball Stress Toss”. Ohio State University Extension. https://bpb-
us-w2.wpmucdn.com/u.osu.edu/dist/d/89384/files/2022/04/Snowball_Stress_Toss_Activity.pdf
Activity 2: Art Activity
Title: Draw What Stress Feels Like to You

Purpose:
The purpose of the “Draw What Stress Feels Like to You” activity is to get participants
actively thinking as to what stress feels like to them and how they respond to stress both
physically and mentally. Stress comes in any different forms and so it is important to understand
the importance of how it impacts us.

Age and Size:

This activity is best for a small to medium sized group. This activity is to be completed
with a group of 3-6 individuals ranging in age from 16 to 19 years old.

Timing:
There has been 15-minutes designated to finishing this activity.

Materials:
- Paper
- Colouring supplies such as marker, pencil crayons, crayons, or paint.

Instructions:
- Ensure each participant has colouring supplies and a piece of paper.
- Ask participants to draw what stress feels like to them, express what causes them stress,
have it impacts them both inside and out. This is completely up to them how they draw it
and what they draw. They have 15 minutes to complete their picture.
- When they are done, or as they are still drawing, they may describe what they are
drawing and why. Have the facilitator prompt them to answer questions, to get a deeper
understanding of why they are drawing certain things and how stress feels like to them.

Cautions:
Some cautions for this activity include both physically getting hurt especially the
possibility of paper cuts. As well as emotional safety and clients being more shy when they are
sharing, or not wanting anyone to see what they are drawing.

Adaptations
Changing the time length for this activity or the emotion is also possible. Changing the
emotion behind drawing may get them to open up about different feelings them have. Also
participants may be nervous about others seeing what they are drawing, so you can always have
a separate space for just them, or spread everyone out.

Resources: N/A
Evidence:
“Through drawing, kids can easily express their emotions and feelings.” (Gayo, n.d.). The
Draw What Stress Feels Like to You activity gives participants another way to express their
emotions and feelings, and get them out rather than holding them in. This can lower stress levels
by allowing participants a safe place to express themselves and to allow their emotions to be
seen.

References:
Similar Activity Reference:
Drawing Emotions. (n.d.) Teaching Ideas. https://www.teachingideas.co.uk/art/drawing-
emotions/

Gayo, Jimena. (n.d.) Beyond Words: 6 Drawing Activities For Kids to Express their Feelings.
Little Big Artists. https://www.littlebigartists.com/articles/drawing-activities-for-kids-to-express-
their-feelings/
Activity 3: Relaxation Activity
Title: Leaves on a Stream Meditation

Purpose:
The purpose of the “Leaves on a Stream” Meditation Activity is to help participants relax
after a possible stressful session, especially when some individuals do not like expressing their
emotions.

Age and Size:

This activity is to be completed with a group of 3-6 individuals ranging in age from 16 to
19 years old.

Timing:
There has been given 10 Minutes for this activity.

Materials:
- Either the YouTube video for this meditation or the script is needed for the activity

Instructions:
- Have all participants remain quiet throughout this activity to allow everyone time and
space to relax.
- The facilitator will either read through the script in a calming voice or play the YouTube
video that corresponds with this meditation.
- Once the meditation session is over allow clients a moment to reflect on how they now
feel afterwards.
Cautions:
Participants may feel uncomfortable relaxing in the space or in silence. Allow
participants as much time as need to get comfortable before starting, or allow participants to sit
out from this activity.

Adaptations
Participants may relax in a multitude of different ways, as well as decide to keep their
eyes opened or closed for this activity. Also, the facilitator may choose to play the video over
reading the script for this meditation.

Resources:
A video of guided imagery can be found by searing “Leaves on a Steam Meditation” on
YouTube, there is a link in the reference section. There will also be a copy of the written words
that are spoke, at the end of this activity.

Evidence:
The program Stress and Relationships gives clients a judgement free space to learn about
stress management and how to cope with stress. “The main benefit of guided imagery is reducing
physical and emotional stress.” (Juber, 2022). This explains why the activity Leaves on a Stream
is an excellent activity for this program, being that it is proven to reduce stress.
References:
Mahammad Juber. (2022). What To Know About Guided Imagery. WebMD
https://www.webmd.com/balance/what-to-know-about-guided-imagery
Eating Recovery Center. (October 27, 2020). Leaves on a Stream Meditation [Video]. YouTube.
https://youtu.be/1yQX1y7zMAg?si=qP-Q6pG0lSSfvcIj
Handout 1: Common Effects of Stress
Handout 2: Leaves on a Stream Meditation Script
Evaluation Stress and Relationships Session 2: Stress and How it Impacts You
1. How did you enjoy session 2?

2. What about session 2 did you enjoy?

3. What about the activities and the session itself did you not enjoy?

4. Do you have any feedback for the facilitator?

5. What is your greatest takeaway from this session?

6. What is something (if anything) did you feel this session was lacking?