by International Stress Awareness Week 4-8 November
It is International Stress Awareness Week on 4-8 November 2024 and is a major annual event focusing on stress management and campaigning against the stigma associated with stress and mental health issues. It was created 50 years ago to raise awareness about stress prevention. The highlight of the week is National Stress Awareness Day, which is the first Wednesday of November.
The theme this year is is Campaigning to reduce stress and improve wellbeing. ISMAUK is hoping that anyone who wishes to achieve these aims should be part of International Stress Awareness Week and it being a great event that delivers on its mission, raising awareness of stress around the world annually.
International Stress Awareness Day (INSAD)
International Stress Awareness Day (INSAD) is one of the main events in the International Stress Management Association (ISMA) calendar. Click on link for more information https://isma.org.uk/isma-international-stress-awareness-week
With stress one of the most common conditions experienced by people today. It is a major contributor to poor health, poor performance and to financial loss both to the individual and to business.
INSAD is about raising awareness of stress including strategies to lessen the potential risk to individuals and organisations, and how to manage damaging stress once it occurs. It is often difficult to keep a good balance in terms of work, play and lifestyle.
Recent research suggests that as technology improves, the nation is increasingly contactable 24 hours a day. Many do not switch off work phones/emails whilst on holiday and often look at emails even before or after the normal working day. It becomes essential to manage this technological change in a positive way, achieving a balance which is essential for good health, positive performance and psychological wellbeing.
Tips to help reduce stress
There are numerous solutions available to help to manage this balancing act. Here are a few tips which are useful in having a good balance in your life.
- Find out what is causing you to feel under stress – do you have a good work/life balance? If not identify some areas you can improve it.
- Learn to say ‘no’ when you have too much to do and suggest leaving something to another day.
- Manage your time effectively – use a diary, planner, smart phone or outlook and plan well ahead of time where possible.
- Identify areas in your life you can control and the areas you cannot control, aim not to waste time on them.
- Eat healthily and monitor sugar, salt and fat intake. Have your 5 fruit and vegetables daily.
- Take time for yourself and be selfish even if it is for a short time each day or weekly. Diary it in so you don’t forget!
- Reduce the amount of alcohol and smoking or stop completely – they may be seen as a coping mechanism but they do have an impact on your health especially long-term.
- Turn negative thoughts to positive even in a small way which impacts on your outlook on life and your colleagues and family. Go from ‘I can’t manage this’ to ‘I will give it a go and see how I get on’.
- Take regular exercise such as using the stairs instead of the lift or getting off the bus one stop earlier. Makes you feel better due to the endorphins being released.
- Rest and relax – have a good night’s sleep and reduce technology such as smart phones, laptop or TV in the bedroom. Aim to go to bed the same time each night and get up the same time each morning so that you can get into a pattern.
More information and free downloads to help make your event a success from https://isma.org.uk/isma-international-stress-awareness-week
Resilience training as well as stress risk, stress management training either onsite at your premises or as open courses. More details here
