April is Stress Awareness Month, so we are starting the month by sharing 5 tips and reminders to help you better manage your stress.

“63% of employees find their work stressful” – Robert Half

“4 in 10 employees think that stress is not handled well in their workplace” – EU-OHSA

Identify your stress
Step back and look at what is causing your stress. List your stressors out in order of biggest to smallest. Identify the top one and take it on – looking at the cause of it and what you can do about it.

Work smarter
Working effectively and getting through pressing issues often helps us feel less stressed. Stay in control by organising a to-do list that prioritises your tasks. Tackle the ones that provide the most value first. Don’t multi-task. Doing one thing at a time is more efficient and less stressful.

Connect
Reach out to those around you—family, friends or colleagues. Doing so will allow you to share feelings and also support others. Take time out to have lunch with a colleague or meet a friend for coffee.

Stay active
We know that exercise and movement directly helps stress through the chemical changes it causes in the brain. It gives off endorphins and promotes better sleep. There’s also no need to spend hours in the gym to do this. Just moderate exercise like fast walking or cycling will help you feel better.

Take time out and rest
To manage stress, it’s really important to find time to recharge. With regular rest and breaks you will feel more able to tackle what the day throws at you. Make a point each day to step away from work to do something that rejuvenates you. Take a walk, have a cup of tea, meditate.