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ABERMED MARK NATIONAL STRESS AWARENESS DAY WITH STRESS-BUSTING TIPS

Today (Wednesday 2nd November) marks the 13th National Stress Awareness Day. Recent research by insurance company AXA reports that people’s stress levels have doubled in four years. Jamie Patterson, accredited psychotherapist at Abermed, one of the UK’s major occupational health providers, explores how occupational stress can be prevented on this pivotal date in the occupational health calendar.

Jamie, who boasts more than 13 years of experience in mental health settings, has three golden rules to help prevent stress in the workplace.

“First, plan your strategy for the day. Going into the working day without a plan may increase the likelihood of getting involved in things that take you away from core tasks. This can mean you finish work without a sense of achievement and the work you actually need to do builds up. Be realistic about how many tasks you can achieve during the day to help foster a sense of control. Break bigger tasks down into smaller ‘chunks’ to get a sense of achievement that leads to motivation.

“Second, take pit-stops. Long periods at your desk staring at a computer screen can lead to tension in both the mind and body. This in turn may lead you to become tired, less productive and it also impairs the thinking processes. From time to time stretch your legs, get some water or talk to a colleague. Why not go for a longer walk during your lunch break? A walk in the winter months can have the added bonus of getting some natural daylight which can help boost your mood.

“Third, re-fuel. Your mind and body need to be adequately fed and watered in order to function properly. In busy periods, it is easy to neglect hunger pangs and to reach for quick food fixes such as chocolate and caffeine drinks. These provide a short-term energy boost but when this effect wears off, it may cause fluctuations in mood, dehydration and even anxious feelings. For more stable energy levels, try to consume less processed foods such as nuts, seeds, fruits, wholemeal breads and drink less sugary caffeinated drinks such as water or herbal tea.

“I believe these small and manageable changes in your working day can really make a difference to your stress levels. Prevention is better than cure.”

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