Archived post - Wellbeing Wednesday post from 8th November 2023 - what stress is, tips for managing stress, & a simple CBT technique to address negative thinking.
It’s Wellbeing Wednesday! & this week our post is all about stress – what stress is, tips for managing stress, & Able Futures reminder.
What is stress?
According to Mind, stress is how we react when we feel under pressure or threatened. It usually happens when we are in a situation that we don’t feel we can manage or control. Sometimes, a small amount of stress can help us to complete tasks & feel more energised. But stress can become a problem when it lasts for a long time or is very intense. In some cases, stress can affect our physical & mental health.
Tips for managing stress
Whether it’s work, juggling relationships with friends & family, or childcare…there are many aspects of life that can cause stress and potentially lead to further mental health problems. Mental Health UK have lots of tips and ideas covering the key areas of health and wellbeing to help you manage your mental health, build your resilience, and feel your best self - see below!
- Work-life balance🏠– watch this video to hear advice from Laura Archer (author of ‘Gone for Lunch: 52 things to do in your lunch break’) on identifying the signs of “burnout” before they happen, as well as practical tips for achieving a work/life balance.
- Exercise🏃 – in this video, Harry Thomas (life coach & co-founder of No.1 Fitness) outlines the link between physical & mental wellbeing & offers 5 tips for achieving better physical & mental health through regular exercise.
- Body image💚 – the term ‘body image’ relates to how we think or feel about our bodies. Many of us will experience a negative feeling towards our body at some point in our lives, & these feelings prolonged can cause symptoms of anxiety, depression & eating disorders. Click here to find out more about what this term means & how you can help yourself to feel more positively about your body.
- Burnout😓 – The modern ways of life have drastically affected our work-life balance & stressors in life. Click here to hear from Mental Health UK about what can contribute to burnout & what you can do about it.
- Sleep & mental health😴 – Click here to watch this video from Eve Sleep – offering advice to help you identify bad sleep patterns & practical tips for a great nights’ sleep.
- Managing stress💛 – Andy & Dave from Mental Health UK share some of the ways they handle stress at work & some small changes which can really make a big difference – click here to watch.
Taking your thoughts to court – a simple, but valuable, CBT technique to address negative thinking
In the words of Mental Health UK – Negative thinking can lead to feelings of stress. Taking your thoughts to court is a simple, yet effective, exercise taught in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) to help you address negative thinking. Click here to learn this technique & put it into practice.
Able Futures – supporting mental health at work
Able Futures deliver the Access to Work Mental Health Support Service on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
This service can provide you with 9 months confidential, no cost advice & guidance from a mental health professional – to help you cope with work while you manage a mental health condition such as anxiety, depression, or stress.
If you’re interested in finding out more about Able Futures & the mental health support they provide, call for free on 0800 321 3137 (from 8am to 10.30pm, Monday to Friday) or visit their website (www.able-futures.co.uk).
They also host a variety of wellbeing webinars throughout the year. Click here to view recordings of previous webinars (covering topics such as sleep & mental health at work, work life balance, & resilience).
