With all the talk of doom and gloom, business downturn, redundancies and global recession, no wonder many of us feel under stress at work – but what do we mean by this?
Quite simply, it is when the normal pressure we all need to motivate us to get out of bed in the morning becomes too high for maintaining a healthy balance.
The Department for Work and Pensions has outlawed the use of the word stress, instead referring to it as abnormal work pressure.
We all respond to different levels of stress. As an ex-hospital doctor I used to thrive on the cut and thrust of the emergency room; but for others this environment was too much.
The one thing we do recognise is that when this pressure becomes too great, we can suffer from a range of symptoms that can have a significant health impact on us, in the short and longer term.
Having worked with clients in many crisis situations, I have observed a range of responses to the high levels of stress these invariably create.
Some people seem to cope better than others and there are strategies you can adopt to help you deal with stress.
The sad fact is that the more stressed we are, the harder many of these recommendations become to follow.
So now is the best time to start, before the storm hits and you can play a major role in determining your own wellbeing.
In the workplace
- Get away from your desk; stretch your legs, get some fresh air and sunlight
- Don’t reach for a coffee – caffeine will make you feel more on edge
- Eat a healthy snack such as nuts or fresh fruit. It may not be as appealing as chocolate but it’s much better for you
- Find a quiet place to relax and try to switch off for five minutes – consider learning some relaxation techniques, perhaps meditation
- If you can grab 20 minutes, power napping works well
Physical
- Eat healthily, and try to keep your weight at a healthy level
- Exercise. Three sessions a week of moderate exercise is good. Some sources now even advocate exercising for 30 minutes, five times a week
- If you smoke, stop, or at least try to cut down
- Don’t turn to drugs and drink – if you are using these to excess cut down, if necessary by seeking professional help through your GP
Psychological/emotional
- Accept responsibility for your own actions
- Remember in life we can’t control events that happen around us, but we do have a choice on how we react to them, and our reactions have a major impact on our psychological well-being
- If you’ve had a disagreement with someone, try a little introspection and reflection. Can you try and see the other person’s point of view? How do you know you are definitely right?
- Take time out for yourself, and indulge in a little ofwhat you fancy.