5 ways to combat stress in the workplace

It’s National Stress Awareness Day and with so many factors in our lives playing a part in our mental health and well-being, it’s important to combat stresses in the workplace. After all, it is where we spend a large chunk of our time.

As the infographic shows, productivity plummets as stress takes hold, I’m sure we all recognise one or two things that cause this.

As managers and leaders, you can be the key to helping your teams feel better when at work.

Here are 5 tips you can encourage your staff to do, as well as showing them how it’s done yourself:

1) Mindfulness

You have probably heard of this term from one channel or another, but what exactly is it?

The Mindfulness approach is all about being in the moment, the present, the right here and now rather than focussing on the past or future.
It means being aware of how you think and feel about your experiences, good or bad, so that you can learn how to manage the more stressful reactions you have.

You can practice mindfulness anywhere, anytime, for as long as you need.

At work, why not take a break from your desk for five minutes, take the long way around to get a cup of tea and practice some deep breathing, clearing your mind and thinking of nothing else other than where you are going and how you like to make your tea.  By the time you get back to your desk, you should feel clearer and calmer, more prepared to tackle whatever it is that was causing you stress.

To read more about mindfulness, click here.

2) Connect with your staff regularly

A problem shared is a problem halved.

It may seem like a no-brainer, but asking how your team members (and each other) are getting on with a task, or even your local football team, can be great openers to finding out how they are feeling.

Why not set-up a regular listening group, an open session that allows everyone to discuss what they think is going well, or not so well. Be fair and be positive, compile feedback and make some action points, and stick to them!

People managers and HR are there to help, don’t let them forget it 🙂

3) Fresh Air

Another little mindfulness tip, but getting out in the fresh air at lunch-time, or even for a ‘walking meeting’ with a colleague is a great excuse to break away from the office and the ‘stuff’ that keeps you there. It’s an easy way to refresh yourself, and get a bit of exercise while you’re at it too, happy chemicals (endorphins) are released to our brains when we exercise!

4) Technology

Ah the bane of our modern existence. Have you ever noticed that the constant checking of our email, phones, social media etc can make you feel on edge?

A great tip, is to simply not communicate electronically until you feel ready to. Don’t check your email and voicemail every five minutes, if something is that important and urgent you will find out one way or the other.

Make a list of priorities and cut yourself some slack!

5) Have fun

Fun at work? What is this sorcery? I’m sure most of us would agree it’s important to get on with those we work with, not just so we can complete our work easier, but to feel work is more than just work.

Why not take ten minutes for a tea-break and play a small party game like pass the parcel (choose a small gift, work related or not) and get everyone on their feet and sharing a joke. I’m sure some posh biscuits would go down well too!

For more information on Mental Health, visit Mental Health Foundation:
http://www.mentalhealth.org.uk

To find out how an employee engagement strategy can help your organisation’s happiness and productivity, request a call back from us.