For almost 30 years, April has been associated with identifying and mitigating stress. Stress is not a new phenomenon and has always been part of our lives. However, the unique challenges over the last 12 months have made stress more prevalent.
The theme for Stress Awareness Month 2021 is โregaining connectivity, certainty and controlโ this is based on a study carried out over the last year which shows roughly 65% of people in the UK have felt more stressed since COVID restrictions were introduced in early 2020. The 3 biggest areas of concern for people were: feeling disconnected, uncertain, and a loss of control, [see article].
According to the Mental Health Foundation, 74% of UK adults have felt so stressed at some point over the last year they felt overwhelmed or unable to cope. When you consider the effect stress has on both our physical and mental health, this is a real concern, [see article].
We recently caught up with some of our own team to find out what theyโve been doing over the past year to help manage their stress:
Andrew Best, Manchester Laboratory
For me itโs a hilarious podcast that always helps me to destress and keep me focused. Thereโs a new one Alan Carr does called โLifeโs a Beachโ which is great, it enforces not to take things too seriously and find the funny side.
Janette Dundon, Human Resources
I have started to fill in a journal at the end of every day, I take time to write down anything thatโs bugging me and then to reflect on what I have enjoyed about the day / what I am pleased about. Iโve found it has helped me to feel in control and to off load.
Sam Boyce, Occupational Health
For me, itโs been the Daily Dose of Calm guided meditation playlist in the Aviva Wellbeing app, there is a selection of 5-minute meditation, which are perfect to do through the day when you have short breaks.
Fay White, Occupational Health
I have recently made more of an effort to take some time away from my computer screen, particularly while working from home. In the past it can be too easy to stay fixed at the desk for the duration of the day, but I now make sure that I spend some time doing a more physical activity every working day, such as cutting the grass or washing the car. Breathing in the fresh air and listening to the birds outside provides a relaxing break from juggling mental tasks. A great stress buster for me.
Promoting proactive measures can be a real benefit in the workplace but also think about your working culture and manage expectations for your colleagues. None of us ever really knows what the future holds, and some things are simply out of our control, but managing stress isn't. Building resilience is all about managing your energy levels, the more energy you have, the more resilient you can be.
If you think RPS can help you and your team manage your stress and overall wellbeing, please don't hesitate to get in touch with Ben at, ben.massey@rpsgroup.com.
Your contact information:
All fields are mandatory *
RPS is committed to protecting and respecting your privacy. We will only use your personal information to administer your account and to provide the products and services you have requested. We would also like to contact you about our products and services, as well as other content that may be of interest to you.
Your contact information:
All fields are mandatory *
RPS is committed to protecting and respecting your privacy. We will only use your personal information to administer your account and to provide the products and services you have requested. We would also like to contact you about our products and services, as well as other content that may be of interest to you.