Stress less this Stress Down Day

Today (Wednesday 24th July) is National Stress Down Day, an initiative designed to reduce stress and raise funds for Lifeline's 24-hour crisis support service.

I love my work, I love a deadline, I love training and I love a challenge.  I'm also a small business owner, a sometimes perfectionist, a little bit of a control freak  and a stressor.  So I LOVE the reminder of Stress Down Day and often try to schedule a no training day to coincide.  Today is perfect, my day is planned around all of my favourite ways to relax (but still work) — I am off to one of my favourite parts of Tasmania with my laptop, plenty to research, a picnic, an umbrella and hiking boots.  

Research shows that 90% of Australians need to stress less - with 74% of people reporting being stressed from work.  A little bit of stress is good for us, it drives our performance and challenges and encourages us but too much stress affects our health and wellbeing. There are so many workplaces that I visit that are in the 'perfect stress storm', they are challenged with under resourcing, management changes, high demands and/or job insecurity.  Not only does this 'stress storm' effect personal emotions and mental health, it effects relationships and job performance, how can you be your best self when your mind is in a stress tangle?

I hope your workplace is embracing Stress Down Day and you are working in PJs, doing lunchtime yoga or taking the dog/cat/bird/lizard to work with you. 

If your workplace is not actively on board don't forget to practice self-care; have a healthy lunch, plenty of stretches, walk around the block or chat to someone who makes you smile.  There are plenty of actions and decisions in our days that we can't control so let's make it a habit (not just for today) to think about what is in our circle of influence and practice duty of care — to ourselves and others.

Get in touch to organise Respect at Work training for your teams.