How to manage stress at work

As it’s Stress Awareness Month throughout April, we’ve put together a brief guide to help you manage stress at work.
Stress is a serious mental health issue, which if left untreated, can cause serious problems, like insomnia, depression and fatigue.

The signs of stress

To first manage your stress at work, you need to know whether you’re showing the signs of stress. Here’s what to look out for:

Although not an exhaustive list, these are the most common symptoms of stress.

The cause of stress

Although stress isn’t exclusive to the workplace, it’s far more common to see stress develop as a work-related illness. According to SECE Mind the common causes of stress in the workplace are:

There are other causes of stress in the workplace, but we’ve listed the most common ones here.

Dealing with stress at work

Taking steps to deal with stress in any way you can will help prevent some of the symptoms of stress. Picking and choosing the most appropriate solution(s) for you is a good place to start. Remember, not everything on the list has to be done to de-stress at work!

• Develop relationships with colleagues and build a network of support at work.
• Talk to someone you trust, in our outside of work, about pressures in the office.
• Speak up if you need help or can’t take on your workload.
• Arrange to meet a friend regularly to chat with.
• Maintain a healthy work-life balance; give time to both personal hobbies and work.
• Eat and drink well; drink plenty of water and eat enough to keep your energy up.
• Try to avoid working excessive hours or taking work home with you.
• Exercise regularly and get plenty of fresh air; walks are a great start!
• Discuss with your employer what is making you feel stressed at work.
• Ensure your work environment is as clean and comfortable as possible.
• Make use of the support on offer. Not sure? Ask your employer for more info!

For more info and mental health support, visit SECE Mind’s website, they have excellent resources and guidance for people living with mental health issues.
Want to learn more about being mentally healthy at work, download Mind’s great guide!