"Fortitude is the capacity that allows us to remain faithful to our convictions and to face with firmness and energy the different situations we encounter in life." (Nájera, A., 2013).

During the month of June we will be working on strength and stress, taking as a context the exams period and semester closing.

In this Strength Kit, we recommend books, articles, videos and more, we hope you enjoy them!

TED Talks

The danger of hiding who you are

Morgana Bailey has been hiding her true self for 16 years. In a brave talk, she utters four words that might not seem like a big deal to some, but to her have been paralyzing. Why speak up? Because she’s realized that her silence has personal, professional and societal consequences. In front of an audience of her co-workers, she reflects on what it means to fear the judgement of others, and how it makes us judge ourselves.

My antidote for stress

Hidde de Vries was running a successful communication and public relations company, when he suffered from a burnout. He went on a search for a way to deal with workstress, but was surprised by how little he found that would help. And so, determined to find an effective way to deal with burnouts, went in search of the antidote.

The cure for burnout (hint: it isn't self-care)

You may be experiencing burnout and not even know it, say authors (and sisters) Emily and Amelia Nagoski. In an introspective and deeply relatable conversation, they detail three telltale signs that stress is getting the best of you -- and share actionable ways to feel safe in your own body when you're burning out.

Podcasts

Making the grades

From school grades to fitness trackers, we're all being ranked and rated on a daily basis. This is having a huge impact on our happiness and preventing us from living our lives to the fullest. Can giving up on grades radically improve our wellbeing?

For an even deeper dive into the research we talk about in the show visit happinesslab.fm

How To Be a Better Ally

You might detest bigotry and injustice, but have you done anything to address these problems? There are many reasons we stay silent and inactive when we know we should intervene to defend the rights of others. We look at the psychology underpinning our reluctance to act and the ways in which we can match our moral beliefs with concrete actions.

Featuring James Barr and Dan Hudson, co-hosts of the podcast ‘A Gay and a Non-Gay’. WARNING: This episode talks frankly about discrimination, hate crimes and sex. For an ever deeper dive into the research we talk about in the show visit happinesslab.fm

Books

Laziness does not exist

Extra-curricular activities. Honors classes. 60-hour work weeks. Side hustles. Like many Americans, Dr. Devon Price believed that productivity was the best way to measure self-worth. Price was an overachiever from the start, graduating from both college and graduate school early, but that success came at a cost. After Price was diagnosed with a severe case of anemia and heart complications from overexertion, they were forced to examine the darker side of all this productivity. Laziness Does Not Exist explores the psychological underpinnings of the “laziness lie,” including its origins from the Puritans and how it has continued to proliferate as digital work tools have blurred the boundaries between work and life. Using in-depth research, Price explains that people today do far more work than nearly any other humans in history yet most of us often still feel we are not doing enough.

You Will Get through This Night

A practical guide to taking control of your mental health for today, tomorrow, and the days after, from the #1 New York Times bestselling author and beloved entertainer. ‘There’s a moment at the end of every day, where the world falls away and you are left alone with your thoughts. A reckoning, when the things you have been pushing to the background, come forward and demand your attention.’ Written by Daniel Howell, in consultation with a qualified psychologist, in an entertaining and personal way from the perspective of someone who has been through it all—this no-nonsense book gives you the tools to understand your mind so you can be in control and really live.

Articles

The complicated reality of doing what you love

I didn’t love my old therapist, but she did give me one crucial piece of advice: Get a hobby. I was writing about food for work, so cooking didn’t really count as a hobby anymore — I’d already monetized that one — nor did reading, nor socializing, especially since all of my friends worked in my industry. I needed something in my life that existed apart from all that. I was stressed and, of course, also on my phone too much (and still am). Maybe something you can do with your hands. The suggestion felt like an escape hatch: Maybe a hobby could free me from toil.

How to Beat Burnout — Without Quitting Your Job

We’re all feeling a little fried at work and home. But there are ways to stay sharp and recharge.

Recommendations

Until a person talks to a therapist about some specific things they struggle with, they won't have a mental health diagnosis to work with. If you are struggling and need help finding a way to move forward, seeking therapy is a great first step.

If you're asking yourself "do I need therapy?", it's worth exploring what you want to get out of therapy, what kind of therapy might work for you, and how to find the right therapist.

What happens when you call the TQueremos Line? (This article is in spanish)

TQueremos 24/7 Hotline

Tel. 800 813 9500

If you are studying abroad, please write to the following Whatsapp number (442 373 6559) mentioning that you are a Tec student and they will send you a link to call free of charge.