{"id":985,"date":"2023-04-17T15:11:03","date_gmt":"2023-04-17T15:11:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mo.work\/uncategorized\/how-to-promote-stress-awareness-month-at-work\/"},"modified":"2025-04-08T14:29:07","modified_gmt":"2025-04-08T13:29:07","slug":"stress-awareness-month","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mo.work\/insights\/stress-awareness-month\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Promote Stress Awareness Month at Work"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

We\u2019re all familiar with stress, but that doesn\u2019t mean we\u2019re paying it as much attention as we should be.  Stress Awareness Month <\/strong>is the perfect opportunity to take a step back and look at stress levels \u2013 at both an individual and company-wide level. Find out more about why it\u2019s so important and what you can do to help your employees manage stress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Stress Awareness Month?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Since 1992, Stress Awareness Month has been a public campaign that aims to raise awareness of the causes and cures for stress in the modern day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The National Institutes of Health<\/a> says that managing stress is an essential component of a healthy lifestyle and suggests that recognising what stress and anxiety look like and how to build resilience is critical for well-being.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Taking time in April (and the months beyond) to think about how well you are promoting stress management is a great way to check in on your policies and find new ways to support mental health and well-being in the workplace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why is stress management so important at work?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As the Stress Management Society<\/a> says, physical and mental health are closely intertwined, and stress is a huge public health challenge. While not all stress is bad, the negative impacts of ignoring feelings of stress, overwhelm or employee burnout can have negative consequences on your workforce.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Job stress makes employees more prone to error, poor work performance, and conflict in the workplace and may even result in high rates of turnover, disengagement and absenteeism if it goes unaddressed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a world where wellbeing has become almost clich\u00e9, it is pretty easy to misunderstand the importance of health and wellbeing at work. Ever since the pandemic hit, our awareness of creating a culture of well-being in the workplace has grown \u2013 yet many employers struggle with it. A healthy work environment and prioritising wellbeing are beneficial for the organisation and employees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Can stress be useful?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Not all stress is indeed bad stress. Low levels can sometimes be a great motivator. The trick is recognising when a positive feeling tips into a negative one. The good type of stress, also known as eustress, feels similar but happens when everything is positive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, when someone gets a promotion, they may feel all the tell-tale signs of stress, but it\u2019s centred around their excitement rather than anxiety. However, extended periods of stress can strain the body and mind, so it\u2019s always worth being aware of.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can I promote stress awareness in the workplace?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

1. Be there for your staff when it matters most<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Building up trust and learning how to be an empathetic leader means that when your employees are stressed or struggling, they are more likely to turn to you or feel able to accept your help. Especially when big or scary things are happening to them outside of work and in it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Check-in if you notice an employee is underperforming or not acting like themselves. Let them know it\u2019s just a casual chat beforehand to remove the extra worry and listen closely to what they say.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Help prioritise workloads<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes, the to-do list can become overwhelming. If your employees are finding it hard to meet their targets, but the workload seems reasonable, stress may be a big factor. Sitting down and going through their workload with them to determine which items are most important can give back the feeling of control. It also lets you pinpoint any times when they have too much on their plate!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It may be that someone needs a bit more leeway with deadlines or help to complete projects \u2013 and that practical support and your reassurance can make a big difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Encourage time off and opportunities for rest<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

People need to rest and refresh, even if they don\u2019t always recognise it for themselves. When someone is very stressed, they may start to think that they can\u2019t afford to take time off for a holiday \u2013 and that\u2019s exactly when they need a break the most.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Encourage your team to make the most of their annual leave and ask them frequently about their plans. The same goes for those little rest breaks throughout the day. Chatting with colleagues or taking a lunch break walk can help the mind reset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Promote work-life balance<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019re all familiar with the idea of a healthy work-life balance, but it can be harder for people to implement than you might realise. Help combat this by promoting your support of flexible working and a people-first management method.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This can help employees feel empowered to take time off or arrange their working hours around their out-of-work commitments. The ability to be flexible and prioritise important life moments is great for helping to lower stress levels and promotes the kind of self-management<\/a> that can help boost performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Build a culture of wellbeing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Creating a culture where employees are encouraged to look after themselves can be incredibly powerful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Work is a huge part of life employees want to know they can be honest about their experiences and rely on their leaders for support. Building a culture of well-being<\/a> can help reduce stress and improve mental health overall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of course, we should be looking out for stress and how it might impact our teams all year round, but Stress Awareness Month is a great opportunity to shine a spotlight on your practices. There\u2019s also a Stress Awareness Week and A Stress Awareness Day at the start of November \u2013 pop it in the diary and continue supporting your team all year round!<\/p>\n\n\n

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