With New Years resolutions still fresh in most of our minds, then we wanted to take advantage and give you a little helping hand and advice on how to manage stress, at work and in your personal life. One of the things we all need to do is to recognise the signs of stress and do something about them early, before they take their toll. I was really interested to read about the case of Lloyds CEO, Antonio Horta-Osorio having to take time off due to insomnia caused by over work – basically, stress! Luckily, Mr Horta-Osorio did something about it and is now back at work, fully fit according to his doctor. Here’s hoping that he will recognise the signs of stress earlier when they occur in the future and not end up in the same state again. Below are some fantastic and practical stress-relief tips that should help ensure that 2012 is as stress-free as possible:
Disconnect
Being connected 24/7 isn’t really necessary. One of the simplest ways to restore a little serenity in the midst of a hectic week is to turn off the phone. Unplug your land line after dinner or turn off your work blackberry too. You’d be surprised how simply turning off the ringer and your emails can bring instant calm
Ask for help
When things pile up and you are feeling stressed out, don’t be afraid to reach out and ask for help, and when it’s offered don’t knock it back. Accept any offers of assistance; a helping hand makes life a whole lot easier.
Plan ahead
Take ten minutes on a Sunday night to plan your week ahead. Get out the diary and pencil in your plans. Staying on top of your week can stop stress before it happens.
Streeeeetch
If you work in an office every day then make sure you take time out to do some nifty little desk exercises which should help posture, relieve tension and de-stress: http://www.glo-wellbeing.co.uk/deskercises.html
Declutter and Get Organised
De-clutter and organise your home and/or office. When your home is cluttered and disorganised, you tend to feel cluttered and disorganised on the inside, causing you more stress
Just say no!
Decide on your priorities and stick to them. Trying to do too much is a great way to build up stress, so don’t be afraid to say no every now and again, and again (if needed).
Lose the alarm
Try going to bed an hour earlier during stressful days (write down your worries first so you don’t toss and turn). You probably won’t need your alarm if you do this – you may even develop this into a healthy new habit! The alarm clock can be very stressful. A lot of us wake up and calculate how many more hours of sleep we have, or we wake up a bit too early and dread the sound we know is coming. So lose the alarm. If you have to use one, get the kind that plays soothing nature sounds or music.
Engage your mind.
Most people stop learning and reading after college (or kids, mortgage, whatever). Mental health and longevity studies consistently show that humans who engage their minds with activities like puzzles, reading, art, travel, new hobbies, and languages are happier, healthier, and live longer. This is your one, precious life – make the most of it! It doesn’t matter if you’re a lousy painter or can barely catch the ball. If you like it, do it.
Do something healthy for yourself
That could mean taking the stairs once a day instead of the escalators or lift, picking one day a week to have a salad for lunch, or eating fresh fruit instead of chocolate. What’s the overall effect on your health? Maybe not much, but small steps lead to bigger ones, and doing something simple for your body is the best way to start
Prank it out.
Laughter is an instant cure for stress. We all know this, but we often fail to take advantage of it. There’s no limit to how much fun you can have, and people don’t have enough! No one’s watching and waiting to criticize you for laughing too much (honest). So find the child in you and play some pranks or splash out on a visit to the local comedy store.
Tags: de-stress, manage stress, stress, stress advice, stress free, stress management, stress relief, stress relief tips
