April is Stress Awareness Month, shining a spotlight on stress, its causes, and possible outcomes. In this article, Ben, the automotive industry charity, shares some top tips to reduce stress levels, and stay safe.
Modern day life can be pretty stressful, with many of us juggling work, family life and chores, so it is easy to feel overwhelmed and sometimes our wellbeing can take a back seat.
It is important to take time for ourselves to de-stress, but rest, relaxation and enjoyable activities can be the first things to go when we have lots going on.
Tips for Stress Awareness Month and beyond
For some inspiration, especially for Stress Awareness Month, we have asked our team of Life Coaches to share how they personally deal with stress and handle the pressures of life. There are some common themes around staying connected, spending time in nature, using different techniques, getting organised and exercising…
- Connecting with others
For our coaches, spending time with their loved ones is very important and it’s something they prioritise. Whether it’s meeting for a drink or a simple phone call, staying connected with friends and family helps them get some perspective and relax.
- Spending time in nature
Most of our coaches like to spend time outside in nature, whether that’s walking their dogs, sitting in front of a view in the sunshine or simply focusing on the sounds and smells around them.
Nishi finds that being outside clears her head while it gives Karen time to feel gratitude for her surroundings. Miar likes to walk barefoot on the grass and Tracey likes to spend time on her allotment.
- Different techniques
Our coaches rate mindfulness, spending time focusing on their breathing and practising
gratitude daily. Tracey says posture is important and she regularly checks whether her body feels tense, then consciously relaxes it.
Nishi says it’s important to understand our values and strengths, making decisions based on these areas. The first step is to understand what our core values are and what strengths we have. This is when working with one of our qualified Life Coaches can help!
- Getting organised
Nishi uses an ‘Impact ease matrix’ to help her tackle her to-do list and get organised. It helps her to map out the different tasks, seeing which ones are easy and important and she does those first. Then she will look at the difficult but important tasks and break them down into easier tasks, asking for help if needed. Anything that’s not very important has to wait or doesn’t get done at all.
Nishi also does journalling which means writing things down when she has a lot on her mind. Journalling is a great outlet for worries, negative thoughts and can help us understand ourselves better and process emotions.
Karen stays organised by writing things down, setting reminders and keeping to a routine which works for her.
- Exercise
Most of our coaches enjoy walking regularly, but Tracey likes simply dancing in her kitchen, Miar enjoys Pilates and Karen does kickboxing, weightlifting and pole dancing.
- Disconnecting from technology
Some of our coaches say it’s important to disconnect from social media and screens regularly. Prioritising seeing loved ones in person when you can and doing activities you enjoy away from screens can help you de-stress.
- Time for yourself
All of our coaches do something enjoyable for themselves each day, even if it is just for a few minutes. Their favourite activities include reading, writing, cooking, watching TV and listening to music. Have a think about your favourite activities that help you zone out and unwind from the daily stresses – it could be anything from working on your car to listening to a podcast!
Life coaching encourages you to identify areas of your life that you would like to change or improve by looking at ‘where you are now’ and ‘where you want to be’.
If you would like some more support with work-life balance, life coaching can help and is free for everyone who works or has worked, in the automotive industry. If you would like to find out more about coaching, click here or if you need some more support to deal with stress, click here.
You can read more about our Life Coaches by clicking here.
Stress Awareness Month 2024
Stress Awareness Month was established in April 1992, and has taken place every year since. For 2024, Stress Awareness Month is running to the theme #LittleByLittle to highlight the transformative impact of consistent, small positive actions on over-all wellbeing.
In the last few years, the potential causes for stress have increased. From the impact of COVID-19 to the cost-of-living crisis, there is more to play on the minds of automotive workers than ever before. Stress Awareness Month is, therefore, more critical than ever in recognising the impact of stress on mental health, and working to help reduce it.
You can find more information on Stress Awareness Month by visiting the Stress Management Society website.
Ben provides support for automotive workers and their families for Stress Awareness Month and beyond. If you are struggling, you can contact the team via their free and confidential helpline. Do not suffer in silence, contact the helpline: 08081 311 333 or use the webchat at www.ben.org.uk. You can also access Ben’s out of hours text support line by texting BEN to 85258.
