National Stress Awareness Day takes place on Wednesday 2nd of November, it’s a day dedicated to recognising the effects of stress and how they can be combatted. Stress is an unwelcome companion for many and is no exception in in the not-for-profit sector.
Self-Assessment
Recognising and tackling stress starts with being self-aware. It’s important to regularly assess your stress levels – ask yourself whether you feel overwhelmed or anxious at work. Try to assess why you’re feeling the way that you are – are you struggling to meet deadlines? Dealing with workplace conflicts? Self-assessment is the first step to understanding how stress affects you.
Stress Reduction Techniques
There are a number of triggers for stress, but workload management should help to mediate any unnecessary causes. Time management should be used to prioritise your tasks, enabling you to set realistic deadlines and avoid procrastination. Despite how busy your schedule may be, it’s still important to factor in time for breaks. Overworking can lead to burnout, but regular short breaks can help to recharge your energy and reduce stress.
If workload is one of your triggers it’s really important to seek help from your manager, or delegate work yourself if you lead a team.
This can also be applied to our home lives. If the chores are piling up don’t be afraid to ask your family to step in and share the workload. Most loved ones are happy to help relieve the burden.
Educate Others
Acknowledging stress isn’t just about helping yourself, it’s also about creating a supportive environment for your colleagues. Try to encourage conversations about stress and mental health. If you feel comfortable sharing your experiences and coping strategies, you can inspire others to open up and seek help if needed.
Awareness Events
Awareness events are a great thing to incorporate into your company or association. This can range from leaflets and resources to workshops and seminars, or even simple discussions where employees or members can learn about stress management and share their own experiences.
In the office, stress is often caused by biting off more than you can chew. It’s easy to take on too high of a workload, especially when working with a membership association. Day jobs can be demanding enough, but once you try to juggle working with a membership association as well as your personal life, things can easily pile up.
Creating a stress-free workplace requires a collective effort. When employers and employees work together to identify and combat stress it not only benefits the individual but enhances the overall productivity and job satisfaction.
Let us know in the comments what you will be doing for National Stress Awareness Day!