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Mental Health Awareness Week: Coping With Stress & Anxiety
May 16 2023
The theme for Mental Health Awareness Week this year is Anxiety, something that everyone will experience at some point or another. With both mental and physical symptoms of anxiety, understanding what this is can be the first step. Conversations surrounding mental health and wellbeing should be prominent all year round, but this week is a great opportunity to check in with yourself and others. We’ve collated a few ways below to take a step in the right direction:
What is anxiety?
Mind describe anxiety as what we feel when we are worried, tense or afraid – particularly about things that are about to happen, or which we think could happen in the future. Anxiety is a natural human response when we feel that we are under threat. It can be experienced through our thoughts, feelings and physical sensations. Understanding the way your body manifests anxiety will allow you to adapt.
Make A Plan
We all have never-ending to-do lists at one point or another, so to avoid getting overwhelmed, make a plan for your day to make tasks more manageable. Prioritise your job list, break up your day with both easier and more time-consuming tasks and don’t push yourself too hard. If anxiety begins to manifest itself, get yourself into a calm headspace; this can include music or a podcast. Suggest email overviews as an alternative to face-to-face meetings, set boundaries to manage your wellbeing. Planning something to look forward to once you’ve finished your working day is a great way to keep tapping into reality throughout the day.
Take A Break
We’re all guilty of being glued to our desk for hours on end, but it’s so important to ensure you’re taking time out for breaks; whether you take a short walk, make a cup of tea, meditate, read a chapter or just have a breather. Studies have found that breaks can reduce or prevent stress, helping to maintain performance throughout the day and reduces the need for a long recovery at the end of the day. Don’t underestimate the power a break can have for your mental health.
Fuel Your Body
Anxiety can present itself in both mental and physical capacities, sometimes making it hard to complete day-to-day tasks. It can be easy to fall into the trap of neglecting your physical health in tough times. It’s so important to make sure you’re keeping your mind and body supported. Cook up a nice healthy lunch, drink plenty of fluids in a super cool water bottle and incorporate vitamins into your daily routine for extra nutrients. It’s been proven that exercise has a positive influence on your wellbeing, keeping you healthy, releasing endorphins, boosting self-esteem and improving sleep. It’s a great step to take to boost your mental and physical wellbeing. Fuel yourself with brain food and your body will thank you.
Have A Chat
Sometimes, having an innocent chat with someone else can lift a weight off your shoulders. Whether you’re in the office or working from home, if it’s physically or digitally, you have people around you who care for you and love you; this can include family and friends, but even colleagues and management. You can meet for a lunchtime coffee, post-work drinks with the girls in the evening, or just a facetime catch up to rant and ground yourself. It’s easy to withdraw yourself when you begin to feel overwhelmed, but sharing with others may benefit you more than you realise. With everyone experiencing some form of anxiety, there may be tips and tricks others can share with you to help you manage these feelings.