We hear so much about stress management and how to deal with a situation that causes your stress levels to rise, but what about preventing stress in the first place? Surely prevention is far better than cure in this situation?
We probably don’t need to tell you that stress is dangerous. To give you an idea of how dangerous, when left to fester stress can easily contribute towards serious conditions, such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. All of these have a certain link with death, so avoiding stress wherever possible is vital. A recent study by Forth showed that a huge 85% of adults in the UK are experiencing a certain amount of stress on a regular basis, whether it’s experienced at their office chairs or otherwise. That’s terrifying when you weigh up the dangers.
When you search online for ‘stress prevention’, you’ll find very little to work with. Most of what comes up is about managing it!
That really tells you how much of a part of life stress is, but it should only be a certain amount. When stress becomes regular and large in your life, you have a problem. Avoiding it is key, so how can you do that?
Have a Healthy Work And Life Balance
Someone who has a healthy balance between their work and their home life is far more likely to be able to side-step stressful situations, or deal with them far quicker. Make sure that you leave work on time physically and mentally leave the office behind when you walk out of the door; don’t allow yourself to think back over the day or think about what you need to do tomorrow. If you had a rather difficult conversation around the conference table, let it go until tomorrow! Of course, looking after yourself and giving yourself TLC is also a great way to banish stress.
Be Open to Talking
Those who find it easy to talk about their feelings and discuss problems that might have occurred whilst sat around those collaborative office desks are more likely to handle stress easier, and probably won’t experience it as much as those who find it harder to talk.
Open up, find someone you trust and have regular debriefs about things which are bothering you, and let them do the same to you. Get outside and walk whilst you’re doing it, for extra health boosts, and stress-beating power!
Live a Healthy Life With Plenty of Exercise
We just mentioned exercise, but that’s only part of the deal. Make sure you get enough sleep every night, eat a healthy diet, and avoid drinking and smoking, to give your body a stronger platform on which to cope with any problems that come your way.
When you’re stronger in body and mind, stress has a harder time wiggling its way into your life, and you’re more likely to have a balanced outlook in general.
Similarly, getting any health problems checked out ahead of time is the way forward to be strong on the inside and outside, and in your working environment, check how comfortable you are on a regular basis. Many businesses are realising the powerful effects of ergonomics, not only in banishing aches and pains, but also in morale and mood boosting.
Report Problems as You Recognise Them
A little like being able to talk about problems, you should also be strong enough and confident enough to report any problems as you see them emerging, rather than avoiding them and hoping they go away. This is far more likely to cause a stressful situation than trying to avoid it happening in the first place. Within your working environment, if you can see a new office desking system is causing issues, don’t be afraid to speak up. Similarly, if you feel you need an office screen to be able to do your work, because you know you’re just going to become overwhelmed with stress if you can’t focus, you should be confident enough to ask for what you need.
Thinking ahead is a good strategy.
Preventing stress is really about second guessing and being able to speak up before an issue occurs. It’s also about looking after yourself and focusing on health and wellbeing. Being a stronger person emotionally will equip you with the tools you need to deal with stress, but it will also starve off the severity of it before it has the chance to begin.