Letter From the Editor - April 2022
Welcome to Spring! After the past two years of so many restrictions and limitations, and even given what’s been going on over in the Ukraine, it feels so good to have spring weather, flowers blooming, trees filling with leaves and so many plans being made for summer vacations. One word of caution: Don’t get so focused on looking months ahead at vacations that you get distracted from what’s in front of you at work.
If you take a moment to go look, in the list of courses available in our Officer Virtual Academy (virtualacademy.officer.com) there is a course titled “Basic Stress Management.” It’s a course I put together because I don’t feel we pay enough attention to it. Sure, everyone gets a class on stress management in the academy (or they should). We get taught to be aware of stress, how it can build up, how it can become toxic and the things we can do to limit the impact of stress on our life.
Realistically speaking, law enforcement professionals cannot totally avoid stress. In fact, part of our job is absorbing stress from those we serve. Don’t think I’m right? Think about the domestic calls you’ve been on and the emotional turmoil you’ve had to referee. Somewhere in the timeline of that call for service, you ended up feeling bad for one of the two parties involved. That emotional hit converts to stress. You’ve been on calls to break up fights and had to force yourself into the conflict situation. That goes against normal human nature and causes stress. You’ve made a late arrest and ended up messaging your (now very unhappy) significant other that you’ll be home late or have to cancel plans. That causes stress in one of the parts of your life that is supposed to be helping you alleviate stress.
The stress compounds unless you bleed it off somehow. We all get taught the ways to manage it: exercise, stay healthy, enjoy your time off, disconnect from the job, lean on your family and friends, etc. Avoid excessive alcohol intake, don’t do drugs, don’t smoke. With spring upon us, I’m going to make another suggestion and encourage you to take it for whatever value you give it: get outside and enjoy nature.
Go hiking. Go backpacking. Go camping. Go boating. Go bicycling, ride your motorcycle, immerse yourself in yard work... something. With the past two years having been all but lost to COVID controls and concerns, make the time to be outside with those you enjoy having around, not wearing a mask and simply basking in the sunlight, warmer temperatures and cool breezes. Watch sunrises. Watch sunsets. Hug your spouse. Tickle your kids. Live life and embrace being off-duty.
Consciously manage your stress before your stress manages you.
Stay safe.
Lt. Frank Borelli (ret), Editorial Director | Editorial Director
Lt. Frank Borelli is the Editorial Director for the Officer Media Group. Frank brings 20+ years of writing and editing experience in addition to 40 years of law enforcement operations, administration and training experience to the team.
Frank has had numerous books published which are available on Amazon.com, BarnesAndNoble.com, and other major retail outlets.
If you have any comments or questions, you can contact him via email at [email protected].