Stress Awareness Month: 30 days to better wellbeing

Did you know that April is Stress Awareness Month? The campaign has run every April since 1992, and offers us a chance to take stock of how we handle the pressure in our lives. After three years of uncertainty and… well… stress, it feels more important now than ever to open a conversation about the unhealthy impact that long term stress can have on people.?

There is still a lot of stigma surrounding stress, particularly in the workplace, as individuals battle to prove their resilience. Stress is the body’s natural response to pressure with a release of hormones, and don’t get us wrong, in the short-term it can be healthy. In fact, the release of stress hormones is a survival instinct partially responsible for the longevity of humanity.?

However, controlling your stress in the long run is easier said than done. Take sleep, for example - it’s quite simple for us to say how important it is to sleep more, but how can this actually be achieved if we never take a minute to consider the habitual changes that might contribute to better sleep? With this in mind, the theme of this year’s Stress Awareness Month is, ‘an invitation to go beyond talk and campaign for taking action and personal responsibility in creating a positive change.’ So, as we enter the new tax year, April could provide the perfect opportunity to reassess your daily practices and see how you can minimise stress.?

To help with this, the Stress Management Society has initiated a 30-day challenge, encouraging people to use April as a period of setting stress-relieving habits. The premise of the challenge stems from the widespread theory that it takes 30 days to form a long-lasting habit. It involves participants doing three actions each day to support their physical, mental and emotional wellbeing.?

Inspiration for your 30 Day Challenge!

If you haven’t previously put deliberate thought into your wellbeing practices, then it could be a bit intimidating to get started with. Not to worry, though - we’ve put together a few ideas that will hopefully point you in the right direction. Although we’re already a few days into April, it’s not too late to start the 30 Day Challenge (we won’t tell if you don’t!)

To help you get started, some of the ETL GLOBAL UK team have shared the ways that they look after their physical, mental and emotional wellbeing…

Physical wellbeing does not have to be a form of exercise or moving around; it could simply be cooking yourself a nourishing meal or organising your personal space. Similarly, mental and emotional wellbeing are completely dependent on your individual needs and interests. Reading a book might be relaxing for some people, but actually more stressful for others!

The more energy you give to your wellbeing, the more likely you will be to find what works for you. Will you be taking part in the 30 day challenge? We’d love to see if anyone joins us in trying to create long-term habits to support their wellbeing!?

If you would like further support with wellbeing in the workplace, please don’t hesitate to contact Eleanor Taylor:

[email protected]