Take the steps to address work place stress
2009-11-04 11:08
With National Stress Awareness Day (NSAD) taking place this week, Sellick Partnership recommends that candidates should take the time to address if they are correctly managing their stress levels. According to recent research, seven in ten workers say that workplace stress levels have increased since the recession, highlighting the need for candidates to take positive steps to ensure a balanced and healthy lifestyle within their role.
According to the NHS, common causes of workplace stress can be attributed to increased work pressure, deadlines and victimisation, as well as the threat of redundancy – which has become a key factor over the last eighteen months. Although some stress is good, too much can have an adverse effect on your health and make you unhappy in your role. Sellick Partnership advises that you need to take time to step back and assess the situation – and adopt strategies to help you.
Sara McKinty, Group Director explains: “A key way to avoid stress in the workplace is through effective time management. This is often something that we can easily lose control of. It helps to ensure that you prioritise tasks for the following day - identifying those which can be delegated to others and highlighting any that require additional support or advice from your colleagues. If you workload is unrealistic don’t be scared to say so. It will be detrimental to yourself and your employer if your timeframes aren’t achievable.
“It is also important to take breaks away from your role, going outside for a stroll can make a massive difference to how you feel. If this isn’t always possible, take the time to catch up with colleagues at lunchtime – laughter is always a good stress reliever! In my opinion, the time that you spend out of work can also make a difference to how you feel in work – take regular exercise, catch up friends and get plenty of rest.”
National Stress Awareness Day takes place on Wednesday 4th November 2009, for further information go to www.nationalstressawarenessday.co.uk.
According to the NHS, common causes of workplace stress can be attributed to increased work pressure, deadlines and victimisation, as well as the threat of redundancy – which has become a key factor over the last eighteen months. Although some stress is good, too much can have an adverse effect on your health and make you unhappy in your role. Sellick Partnership advises that you need to take time to step back and assess the situation – and adopt strategies to help you.
Sara McKinty, Group Director explains: “A key way to avoid stress in the workplace is through effective time management. This is often something that we can easily lose control of. It helps to ensure that you prioritise tasks for the following day - identifying those which can be delegated to others and highlighting any that require additional support or advice from your colleagues. If you workload is unrealistic don’t be scared to say so. It will be detrimental to yourself and your employer if your timeframes aren’t achievable.
“It is also important to take breaks away from your role, going outside for a stroll can make a massive difference to how you feel. If this isn’t always possible, take the time to catch up with colleagues at lunchtime – laughter is always a good stress reliever! In my opinion, the time that you spend out of work can also make a difference to how you feel in work – take regular exercise, catch up friends and get plenty of rest.”
National Stress Awareness Day takes place on Wednesday 4th November 2009, for further information go to www.nationalstressawarenessday.co.uk.
