7 Tips to Prevent Workplace Stress

Everyone will encounter a level of stress at work, no matter what your occupation is. IPRS Health’s very own CBT therapist Meloney Brimblecombe has put together 7 tips to prevent stress becoming unhelpful or developing into other symptoms in the workplace.

Tip 1: Find your baseline - know your habits when you are well will help you notice when they are not so well - early warning signs!

Tip 2: Be selfish - Make sure you take time each day to relax and do whatever you enjoy, even if its listening to your favourite music or a funny video on your lunch!

Tip 3: Screen free time - make sure you take your screen breaks at work and try to reduce the time you spend on your phone during your leisure and lunchtime!

Tip 4: Write - Use to do lists if you have a lot to do instead of it all circling around your mind. Write an annoying thought on a piece of paper then screw it up and bin it or shred it! Just writing things down that stress you out can be cathartic in yourself.

Tip 5: Exercise - Exercise release those happy chemicals! the mind and body are connected so healthy mind can give you a healthy body, so take regular exercise or a brisk walk at lunch or bike to work!

Tip 6: Talk and Listen - It’s good to talk! One of the worse things you can do is to bottle everything up, as when that bottle shakes it explodes. Find someone who can be your 'buddy' or a friend at work and share stresses with each other. Support each other. Sometimes vocalising the way we feel halves the stress that the problem had first initiated.

Tip 7: Mindfulness 3 Step Breathing Space - A great 3-minute meditation practice to help you step back and refocus (even at your desk or on the loo!) - https://www.bangor.ac.uk/mindfulness/audio/index.php.en