Mental Health Awareness Week takes place Monday 13th May – Sunday 19th May, dedicated to ensuring individuals keep mentally healthy in all aspects of their life.
Throughout the professional landscape, workplace stress has become increasingly more prevalent, affecting employees across all industries. Tight deadlines and heavy workloads add to life’s pressures, taking a toll on individuals’ mental health.
This can be particularly prevalent for those who volunteer their time to work alongside professional membership associations, whilst also juggling multiple responsibilities within their career and home life.
Recognise the Signs
It’s important for everybody to familiarise themselves with the common signs and symptoms of stress to help identify any problems that may arise within themselves or colleagues.
Common indicators can include increased irritability and difficulty concentrating (or brain fog). It’s not commonly known that stress-related issues can lead to physical symptoms despite rooting from poor mental health – this could include headaches or increased fatigue.
Making yourself aware of these signs can help you to take proactive measures to address stress before it has chance to escalate into a more significant issue.
Strategies for Stress Management
Fortunately, there are numerous strategies that professionals can utilise to manage work related stress effectively.
Prioritising time management, setting realistic goals, and maintaining a healthy work-life balance are all essential components of stress management. Additionally, it is worth reading up on mindfulness techniques and breathing exercises which can help alleviate stress in the moment.
Avoid multitasking! Although multitasking seems like it would save time, it can often affect the standard of work you produce. It is best to devote your attention to one task at a time. Be prepared to say no when asked to help with other projects – I know this can be difficult, but sometimes it’s hard to see when you’re burning the candle at both ends. When you know you already have too much on your plate, then it’s okay to say no.
Stress management starts before you get to the office. Your diet, exercise routine, and the amount of sleep you get all play an important part in how you feel when you start working.
Creating a Supportive Environment
When taking on a role within a professional membership association, it’s important to encourage recognition of mental health issues across the organisations you work in. Raising awareness and promoting education surrounding mental health will help to create a more inclusive working environment, offering a support network for you and your colleagues.