Welcome to part 2 of our Stress Awareness Month blog by our Head of Services for Learning Disability, Autism and Mental Health, Clare Metcalfe. In part two of the blog, Clare discusses the top tips for managing stress whilst creating a positive work and home environment.
1. Positivity
Whether you’re dealing with stress at work or in your personal life, try to maintain a positive mindset. Trying to focus on the positives can help to boost your mood and relieve stress.
2. Know your limits and set boundaries
It’s important to know your limits and set yourself some boundaries. Try to identify triggers of stress in both your work and personal life. Make sure to create a healthy work-life balance and give yourself enough time to see your friends and family whilst allowing time to focus on yourself. Self-care is just as important as time with your loved ones.
3. Communicate
If you’re ever dealing with high amounts of stress in the workplace or at home, make sure to talk about it so the right people will be able to offer you the support you need. Once you talk about how you are feeling, solutions can be discussed and implemented and will therefore alleviate the stress you were previously dealing with. It’s important to communicate with your colleagues, friends or family and be honest. Honest communication can improve relationships and build trust.
4. Set goals
Setting yourself short term goals will help you to focus and will create a positive sense of achievement when you meet them. When you give yourself goals, make sure to be realistic but also challenge yourself a little. Achieving those goals will make you feel satisfied and happy and automatically boost your mood.
5. Journal or keep a diary
Writing down how you are feeling each day, or even once a week, can help you to offload and relieve stress. It has been proven that writing down three things you are grateful for once a week can increase your happiness levels and help cultivate gratitude.
6. Focus on your breathing
If you are struggling with stress and it’s affecting your mental and physical health, make sure to take five minutes away from whatever you’re doing and focus on your breathing. We have created a blog for breathing exercises to try to reduce stress and anxiety.
7. Eat and exercise well
Exercise and your diet can drastically impact your mood. Healthy eating and exercising regularly has been proven to reduce stress, anxiety and depression. Exercising regularly has also been proven to alleviate symptoms of low self-esteem and social withdrawal.
8. Look out for others
If you notice any of the signs and symptoms listed in part 1 of our blog in other people, make sure to offer reassurance and ask if they’re okay. Not everyone may feel comfortable reaching out, so be patient with them and offer as much support as they need.
