National Stress Awareness Week
30th October - 3rd November is National Stress Awareness Week, with Stress Awareness Day falling on Wednesday 1st November.
Organised by the International Stress Management Association, this important initiative aims to “raise awareness of stress around the world and improve the ways in which stress is managed in the workplace and in our personal lives”.
We all experience stress in our lives, whether at work or at home (or both), and we usually cope pretty well. But sometimes, particularly during times of change (whether that’s change we’ve chosen or change that life has thrown at us), our stress levels can rise, and it can feel hard to cope.
When our stress levels get too high, it can seriously impact our health and wellbeing, causing symptoms like headaches, weight gain, sleepless nights, anxiety and high blood pressure.
It’s not always possible to eliminate the causes of stress from our lives, which is why it’s essential to find practical tools that can help us to manage our stress levels and protect our mental and physical health and wellbeing.
I like to think of my stress management and awareness as a constant work-in-progress in my life - both work and home life - and some of the things that work for me are:
Mindfulness practises, such as mindful breathing
Self-care: for example, setting boundaries and learning to say “no”
Using timesaving hacks to cut corners where possible
Switching off from the pressures of work and taking time out to think and reflect
Building things that matter into my life, including spending time with friends and family, travelling and making time for hobbies.
Try to find some time to think about what’s causing you stress in your life, and what might help you to take control and reduce your stress levels. If you’re worried about your mental health, then contact your GP or mental health practitioner, or call Samaritans on 116 123.
