One in six people report 'very high' or 'extremely high' levels of stress at work. Yet stress can be easily reduced by making straightforward adjustments in management practice.
Most people experience stress at some point in their lives; it is part of normal life and different people react in different ways. The principal difference is in the severity and duration of the symptoms and the impact they have on a person's everyday life. Stress is not an illness but a physiological state which, if left unmanaged, can lead to illness. Excessive levels of stress can result in mental health problems such as anxiety and depression as well as physical symptoms including high blood pressure, heart disease, anxiety, depression and burnout.
Stressors may be any life event or circumstance that exerts physical, emotional or cognitive demands on a person. We are all likely to experience stress in our lives and therefore it is not the stress which causes the problem but our ability to cope with the stress or the excess pressure that the stressors can cause.
Long-term excessive stress can lead to serious health problems and therefore it is important to identify whether real excessive pressure exists or whether there are other underlying causative factors which are contributing to the individual's inability to cope, or more importantly, their perception of their ability to cope.
One person's stress is another's enjoyable challenge which means that we must all learn skills to manage our own stress. Good nutrition and plenty of exercise will help most people manage a wide range of stressors. Here are a few helpful hints:
- Try to exercise regularly a minimum of five times per week for 30 minutes or more
- Eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables
- Eat good fats such as that found in salmon, tuna, mackerel, avocados, nuts and seeds
- Take Omega 3 fish oil daily
- Reduce your alcohol intake and don't turn to it in times of stress - instead drink water and go for a walk
- Don't smoke
- Buy a relaxing CD and allow yourself quiet time to relax
- Learn deep breathing techniques to help manage any anxiety
- Talk about your problems to someone you can trust and if necessary seek professional help
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