13 Healthy Ways to Help Employees Reduce Stress
Evan Jensen, The Healthy Copywriter
Freelance Copywriter | Health & Fitness Content to Drive Traffic, Boost Engagement & Support Wellness Programs | Health & Wellness Copywriter | Fitness Copywriter |
Are your employees, patients or clients stressed out?
Here's a hint. The answer is "yes."
??Chronic stress is a big problem for a lot of adults.
A recent study found that money (gas prices, ouch!?), work, family responsibilities, and health concerns (thanks a lot COVID-19??) are the biggest sources of stress for most people.
If you don’t help your employees, patients or clients deal with stress healthy ways, it can lead to bigger problems.
So what are you going to do about it?
Yes or No? A Simple Way to Gauge Stress Levels
If you want to get a better sense of what your population is dealing with when it comes to stress, a simple "Yes-No" self-assessment can be a good place to start:
?? It’s difficult for me to stay calm when I’m frustrated. (Yes or No?)
?? I feel angry, distracted, or moody often. (Yes or No?)
?? I worry a lot about work, money, health, or my relationships. (Yes or No?)
?? I often feel overwhelmed, lonely, or depressed. (Yes or No?)
?? I often have headaches, nausea, dizziness, bowel discomfort, or rapid heartbeat. (Yes or No?)
RESPONSES: If your employees, patients or clients answer “yes” to any of these statements, stress may be a problem.
The good news: You can help your population learn to manage stress in healthy ways.
The Trouble with Too Much Stress
Lots of people go to the doctor for aches and pains, the common cold or other health issues. But stress can often be part of the problem.
In a recent study, researchers found that stress is an underlying factor for:
Starting to get the picture? Left unchecked, stress can have a big impact on your healthcare costs in the amount of $133.2 billion a year in the U.S.
When you experience a stressful event, hormones (adrenaline and cortisol) flood your circulatory system to help you take swift action. That's good.
But if a stressful situation isn’t resolved, chronic stress can lead to:
13 Healthy Ways to Reduce Stress
Sounds like a lot of gloom and doom, right? Here's the thing...everybody experiences stress.
When you start feeling stressed out, taking action can make a difference. You may not be able to resolve your problems right away, but you can change the way you react to them.
Want to help your employees, patients or clients manage stress in healthy ways?
Here's how:
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??1.Breathe deeply.
Take 10?breaths of fresh outdoor air. Deep breathing has a calming effect that can reduce stressful feelings such as anger, anxiety, and fear.
Making this a regular habit can also help lower blood pressure, increase your energy level, and help you sleep better.
??♂?2. Exercise.
Just 20 to 30 minutes of daily walking, yoga, or another form of exercise can improve your mood as well as physical health.
Physical activity burns up stress hormones, and stimulates the mind to help you relax and think better about your problems.
??3. Do something you really enjoy.
Take up a hobby like painting, cooking, photography, fishing, or playing music. This can take your mind off the stressful things in your life and help you see your situation in a different way.
??4. Learn to communicate better.
Listen to what others say. Give clear, assertive statements about what you need to accomplish your work or improve your relationship. Be realistic and willing to compromise to solve a problem.
??5. Get enough sleep.
Aim to sleep 7 to 8 hours a night. If that’s a challenge, take a nap during the day too. Adequate sleep can eliminate stress and restore the body to a relaxed state.
??6. Live within a budget.
Overspending, debt, and worrying about money are common sources of stress. Create a budget, and live within your means.
??7. Talk over a problem...
...with a friend, your supervisor, or religious leader. Just sharing your concerns about something often brings relief, support, and courage to carry on. It can also help you cope better with anxiety, stress, depression, illness, and other crises.
??8. Eat a healthy diet.
You’ll cope with stress better if you’re getting the vitamins and nutrients you need. Eat a healthy breakfast every day. Cut back on sweets, soda, and fast food. Eat more fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes, and whole grains.
?9. Limit caffeine.
Caffeine raises stress hormones, which can make it difficult to relax and sleep.
?10. Just say “no.”
You can’t do everything all at once at work or at home. Learn to say “no” if you need to. Delegate responsibilities. Ask for help. Set priorities and be realistic about what you can handle.
??11. Laugh more.
Watch a funny movie. Read a joke book. Or look up funny videos on YouTube. Research shows that laughing reduces stress and releases endorphins that can improve your mood and your health.
??12. Don’t sweat the small stuff.
You’ll feel better if you don’t let things like traffic jams or crying babies bother you. If you get upset easily, practice correcting yourself when something sets you off.
If you feel the urge to shout at a careless driver, stop yourself. Replace that thought with something like, “He must be late for an important meeting,” or “She must be having a bad day.”
????13. Get professional help if needed.
A professional counselor can help you deal with financial worries or personal problems. Or you can work with a dietician, fitness coach, spiritual advisor, or life coach. Getting help is a healthy way to reduce stress.
??♂???♀?Feeling stressed out? Resist the urge to honk your horn, send an angry email, yell at someone, or eat to calm your nerves.
??Instead, take a step back. Recognize you’re feeling stress. Then use one of these coping strategies to help you reduce stress, feel better, and improve your health.
Want more easy-to-digest content for your?WELLNESS PROGRAM?to help your employees, patients or clients?
?Let's connect?(or send me a DM), and I'll send you the most recent issue of WellNotes.