Top Tips for Stress Awareness Week
You need to calm down: 4 simple stress busters for a better work day
Stress Awareness Week takes place from 4-8 November, aiming to help us all on the path to better stress management, and to combat the stigma of stress and the mental health issues that arise as a result. Stress is more common than many people think, with 1 in 9 UK adults reporting that they feel stress every single day. While we can feel stressed at any point in our lives, and for a whole variety of different reasons, the most common cause is work related stress, with a shocking 79% of adults frequently feeling it, with the 80% of employees reporting ‘moderate to high’ or ‘high’ levels of stress.
Stress at work – Why we need to be aware
It’s well known that stress can have negative effects on our immune system, but the list of stress effects on the body is a pretty long one. While it’s hard to narrow them down, five symptoms of stress that are most reported include:
Anxiety or irritability
Fatigue or sleep problems
Poor concentration or memory problems
Feeling unable to switch off
Digestive problems such as indigestion or an upset stomach
Whether it’s the physical effects of stress getting to us or the fact that we’re simply burnt-out and more susceptible to illness, around 17 million working days a year are lost because of ill health caused by work stress, depression or anxiety – impacting both the employee and the employer. It certainly seems like stress free jobs are a rare occurrence, so how can we take steps to ensure we’re prioritising our wellbeing during the workday? Given that stress with work seems to affect a shocking level of adults in the UK, today we’re looking at a few ways in which you can bring a little calm into your workspace. While we can’t promise we’ll alleviate your workplace stressors, we can certainly help with a few small ways to bring a little bit of Ubiety-goodness into your day.
Personalise your space
While it may not always be possible if you’re working in a shared office, a few homey touches can be helpful at bringing some positivity to your workspace. Small touches such as pictures of loved ones, personalised stationary, or even a motivating or uplifting image on your computer wallpaper can bring a smile to your day when you need it most! You could also keep a stash of your favourite Ubiety body care products in your desk drawer for when you need a little boost. The fresh, mood-boosting scent of our Lemongrass and Cedarwood Soothing Hand Lotion is the perfect pick-me-up and will leave your hands feeling silky smooth too.
If you work from home, you can branch out a little more on creating a calming space, perhaps even with a touch of Ubiety home fragrance. Our Mandarin, Grapefruit and Cedar Uplifting Candle is the perfect scent for anyone needing a bit of a boost during the day with its energising scent, or, if you’re feeling a little overwhelmed, you can enjoy the relaxing scent of our Cedar, Sage and Ylang Ylang Calming Candle. Alternatively, why not indulge in your favourite Ubiety scents via our Reed Diffusers, which are perfect for smaller office spaces!
Take a break
For many of us, the idea of taking regular breaks throughout the day isn’t a very productive one, but actually, it has multiple benefits including increased creativity and productivity and the ability to better process and retain information. How you use that break time is up to you, but experts recommend getting outside for a brief walk or taking a few minutes to meditate as the best ways to make the most of the time away from your desk. Our Birch Water and Neroli Cooling Facial Mist is a great accompaniment to your daily break time, and a quick spritz will work wonders at giving you a boost.
Get moving
Similarly, taking the time to stretch your muscles and get the blood flowing at various points during the workday can be one of the best stress busters. If you’re a regular gym-goer, you could pop out during your lunchbreak for a fitness class, or even head out for a quick walk and some fresh air. Alternatively, if you’re tight for time, at least ensure you take a few minutes to stretch your neck, shoulders and back, as this can help reduce muscle tension and help to prevent strain injuries.
Recognise the signs and admit when you need to press pause
Half the battle in combatting stress is knowing when it’s starting to hit us. Ignoring stress symptoms can lead to burnout, so it’s important to know the signs that we need to put the brakes on and take some time out. Our typical British-ness of powering through and the ‘keep calm and carry on’ mindset mean we’ve all been guilty of working through when we’ve felt under the weather or our to-do list has been unmanageable, but sometimes we need to admit to ourselves that enough is enough.
If you find yourself getting sick more often, struggling to get a good night’s sleep or frequently find yourself anxious and on edge, it could be a sign that you need to take a mental health day.
For the business owners…Ubiety Corporate Gifting
If you’re a business owner looking for a unique and meaningful way to express your appreciation to your employees, a Ubiety gift box is the perfect way to show your thanks, all while supporting the work of Dorothy House.
Our corporate gifts are also perfect for giving to clients and business partners too, with bespoke gifts that can be tailored to your requirements. Alongside showing your appreciation to your business partners and staff, by giving the gift of Ubiety, you’re also demonstrating a sustainable approach to your company and the role it plays in supporting hospice care across your community.
Try Ubiety for yourself – come and see us at the Bath Christmas Market!
Looking for an opportunity to try before you buy? We’ll be returning to the Bath Christmas Market this November for all your festive gifting needs. It’s the perfect opportunity to sample and shop our indulgent range of body care and home fragrance, not just for your loved ones, but perhaps even a little treat for you too. After all, with the festive season coming up, we’ll all need a little TLC! We’ll be there from 28 November to 15 December, so be sure to come and see us!
