April is Stress Awareness Month, a time when people are encouraged to learn about the effects of stress on their health, how to identify stress triggers and how to manage them. Stress can have a huge impact on people’s health and well-being and is a common problem that can affect everyone at some point during their lives. If stress is not managed, it can become a serious problem and have much greater consequences.
Stress is the body’s natural response to difficult situations and is a survival mechanism. However, stress can become chronic and lead to longer term conditions such as anxiety, depression, high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes. Stress can also induce behaviour changes such as irritability, problems focusing, and difficulties with sleeping.
Different life factors can have an influence on stress including work, finances, relationships and health problems, however, with some simple steps and strategies, stress can be managed which has a wealth of benefits.
• Exercise: Regular physical activity can have a huge impact on stress relief. It doesn’t need to be anything too strenuous, something such as a gentle stroll can help. Why not join in one of our ParkLife Pacer walks and explore Thorpe Park Leeds during your lunch break?
• Practice mindfulness: Many people find that meditation, yoga or deep breathing can help alleviate stress. Calming your mind can help lower stress levels.
• Sleep: Sounds simple, but simply getting enough sleep and feeling well rested will benefit your health overall.
• Support: It’s important to have the right people around you. Make sure you have a good network of friends and colleagues you can talk to.
• Time management: Life is hectic, take time to prioritise tasks and make sure you have a good network of people around you, that you can talk to.
There are some great resources online that are free to access to help understand stress and how to manage the symptoms. We’ve pulled a few together below for you:
Mental Health at Work Resources, toolkits, and case studies online from Mind.
Mental Health First Aid A UK Government funded online course.
Stress Management Society Stress test, online workshops, and resources.
Stress Awareness Month is an important opportunity to raise awareness about the effects of stress on our health and well-being. By learning about stress and practising effective stress management strategies, we can reduce the negative impact of stress on our lives and improve our overall health and well-being. Download our Stress Awareness Month poster to share in your workplace.