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A Guide to Recognising and Managing Stress

We all experience stress in our day-to-day routines, or through significant life events and changes. This can motivate and inspire us, but how do we recognise when stress becomes too much, and when do we need to seek support? 4-8th November is International Stress Awareness Week, which provides the opportunity recognise and manage stress.

Signs of Stress

Recognising the signs of stress is crucial for timely intervention. Common indicators include:

  • Physical Symptoms: Headaches, fatigue, and gastrointestinal issues.
  • Emotional Changes: Increased irritability, anxiety, or mood swings.
  • Behavioural Shifts: Changes in sleep patterns, appetite, or social withdrawal.

Stress Management Techniques

Our physical wellbeing includes diet, exercise and sleep habits.

Ideas:

  • Plan your snacks and meals to keep healthy eating on track
  • Keep a food diary to see where you might improve your habits
  • Commit to a Couch-to-5k to get out in the fresh air on 3 days per week
  • Drink an extra glass of water each day
  • Try breathing exercises to calm and relax
  • Go to bed half an hour earlier
  • Prepare a meal you’ve never made before from scratch

Improve Mental Wellbeing

It can help to look at stress management in terms of actions you can take to manage stress, and acceptance of other aspects outside of your control. Peritus Health offer counselling and Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) are talking therapies that offer a confidential space to understand our own mental health, identify coping strategies and can provide lasting effective change.

Time management and goals –

  • Plan your schedule for the next day the night before
  • Recognise time-wasting tasks and monitor how long you spend on them
  • Take regular breaks to refresh and revitalise
  • Unsubscribe from emails you never read
  • Create a pie chart of how you spend your time, current vs ideal

Acceptance – based tips –

  • Break down your worries into things you can do something about, things you can influence in some way, and those outside of your control. Spend time on things in that order.
  • Recognise where your time and energy is over-stretched and learn to say no sometimes
  • Try to look at thoughts and feelings without judging them as good or bad, just accept them as they are
  • List your values in order of importance to you and make decisions based on what reflects those values

Your Emotional Wellbeing

  • Reflect on your favourite thing about the day to focus on the positives
  • Write a journal before sleep to process anything left over from the day
  • Dedicate 10 minutes to “worry time” writing down or sorting out things that are bothering you
  • Phone a friend
  • Listen to your favourite music
  • Volunteer time towards a community project
  • Figure out what you enjoy doing and plan it in
  • Plan a holiday
  • Book a counselling session

How can we help?

At Peritus Health Management, we have a range of options to help you manage stress and wellbeing. Whether you’re an employer looking to train employees in Stress Management Awareness, reviewing your Wellbeing Policy and work practices against the HSE Management Standards or providing workplace counselling, we can offer a package that works for you.

campaigning to reduce stress

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