Employee Health & Wellness: Stress Awareness Month

Headaches, high blood pressure and sleeping issues are all on the list of potential indicators of too much stress. Constant stress can negatively impact your mind and body, causing you to not function at your best level.

The first step to dealing with stress is identifying your stressors. Try practicing mindfulness when you feel overwhelmed. Experts suggest that this can help you determine the stressors affecting you so that you are able to address them in the future.

After you have identified the roots of your stress, it is time to come up with an action plan. It is often hard to truly eliminate some of your stressors because they may be a part of your everyday life. Although it may be challenging, take a moment to step away and take a break. You can use this time to take a walk or participate in another activity you like. Once you have had time to ease your mind, experts recommend going back to the activity and try your best to tackle it again.

It is also important to be intentional with your time. Dedicate time for self care and being with people whom you care about and with whom you enjoy spending time. Take a look at your schedule in advance to better understand your upcoming priorities and obligations. Once you have a sense of what your week looks like, block off any open spots for yourself.

Everyone encounters stress at times, but it is important to note that it is manageable and to not let it consume you. For more tips and information on stress management, visit the National Stress Awareness Month webpage.