Counselling psychologist, Noemi Viagano, from SilverCloud health, has revealed her top tips on managing stress.
Stress affects three million people in the UK and healthcare workers aren’t exempt – 39% of NHS staff reported that they had felt unwell in the last year due to work-related stress.
Viagano’s recommendations can be printed out for a staff noticeboard or shared with employeesRecognise that you’re feeling stressed as this can give you the motivation to do something about it.
- Identify what is causing you stress. Have you experienced any changes or losses in your life recently? Have you had to adjust to a new environment? Have you worked long hours?
- Talk to someone. If you aren’t comfortable about starting a face-to-face conversation, try using your phone, Skype or an online messenger, or even sending a text.
- Take time to ask yourself what has helped you to manage stress in the past. Chances are you have been stressed before and have coped with it.
- Find time to relax every day. Your body cannot be stressed and relaxed at the same time. You can learn to control your stress response by learning to tell your body to relax.
- Stay healthy. When we are under pressure, stressed and tired we tend to lose balance in our lives; you may seek out comfort foods, cut down on exercise or have trouble sleeping. These behaviours can feed your stress.
- Have some fun. This will help you combat stress as well as lifting your mood and helping you to appreciate the good things in your life.
