The benefits of Stress Management in the Workplace

What is Stress Management?

Stress is something that every human can experience. On the one hand, it can be beneficial in that it heightens the senses and can help the individual remain hyper-vigilant, but on the other hand, too much stress over a long period of time has the potential to become detrimental to a person’s health. Stress can affect a person both physically and emotionally, but it is the awareness of that stress that is the first step to overcoming it. Stress management is effectively having the tools and techniques in place to manage the stress and learn to become aware of spotting the symptoms before they begin. Learning individual techniques and understanding personal triggers can help, as this enables the individual to feel like they have control over their wellbeing. Acknowledging this is important, as the ‘terms ‘resilience’ and ‘managing stress’ can mean different things to different people.’ – (Mind.org.uk)

What is work-related stress?

Work related stress can appear in many forms, from physical symptoms to emotional and behavioural. It can affect how individuals react to certain work-related situations, for example, giving a presentation one month might feel a lot more stressful the following month if there have been other taxing factors affecting the workplace/taking place externally. Stress in the workplace appears to have become commonplace, with the charity Mental Health Foundation stating that ‘People affected by work-related stress lose an average of 24 days of work due to ill health.’ But it doesn’t have to be that way. Many employers are recognising how unhealthy stress can be on their workforce and are beginning to introduce ways to encourage employees that when ‘work is causing you stress, the sooner you recognise the signs, the quicker you can take action to make things better.’ (Bupa.co.uk)

What are stress management workshops?

Stress Management Workshops are courses designed for employees to recognise the signs and symptoms of stress and teach them tools to manage their symptoms with an aim to alleviate stress. Courses designed by St Johns Ambulance for example, offer courses that are ‘suitable for anyone who wants to strengthen their inner drive and coping mechanisms’

https://www.sja.org.uk/courses/workplace-resilience-and-wellbeing/resilient-you/book-resyou/

International Stress Awareness Week, which usually takes place in November is a good opportunity for introducing workshops where the company can come together collectively. See https://isma.org.uk/isma-international-stress-awareness-week for more details on what the International Stress Management Association UK have planned for 2022.

Why introduce stress management workshops into the workplace?

By offering stress management workshops into the workplace, the employer is providing tools for their employees to help tackle any stress they might feel could impact their daily lives. The workshops are an incentive in gaining control over stress and recognising when stressful events might arise. The workshops highlight that employers are aware of their employee’s wellbeing, and in turn, this can encourage open channels of communication and help eliminate any mental health stigma that might be in place. It may also help improve productivity as potentially ‘Having work-related stress can also mean you may take more time off sick, make more mistakes and not do your job as well.’ (Bupa.co.uk)

Alongside promoting exercise, healthy eating, avoiding any bad habits etc of their employees, stress management workshops can offer a focus on maintaining and improving good mental health. For, as Mental Health First Aid (UK) states, ‘We all have mental health. Better mental health is good for everyone and recognising this is good for society.’

References

https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/stress/managing-stress-and-building-resilience/
https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health/a-z-topics/stress
https://www.bupa.co.uk/health-information/mental-health/stress-workplace
https://www.sja.org.uk/courses/workplace-resilience-and-wellbeing/resilient-you/book-resyou/
https://mhfaengland.org/mhfa-centre/about/why-we-exist/
https://isma.org.uk/isma-international-stress-awareness-week