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Stand UP - to everyday stress

Have you found yourself being a little overwhelmed lately, or just feeling irritable and more tired than normal? Or maybe you’re experiencing a lack of self-confidence.

Stand UP to everyday stress is designed to help you spot the signs and indicators of stress in yourself and in others and point you in the direction to help and support.

There’s a toolkit for you to download along with a promotional poster and digital banner, a podcast and a 15 minute webinar, or if you want to check a few stress myths vs facts, we’ve developed a short, fun quiz in the activities section below.

The pressures of everyday life are something that we may all experience from time to time. It can start to go wrong when the pressure builds and takes us over our own personal tipping point. You might start to spot physical signs and symptoms – such as breathlessness, tiredness and lethargy.

As individuals it helps to be aware of our stress triggers so we can change our behaviour to help protect ourselves. If you find you are experiencing too much pressure than you can personally cope with, your bucket may become full, so we need to find ways to release what’s in the bucket before it starts to overflow.

Most of us may struggle with our mental health at points in our lives and to varying degrees; it’s not uncommon and certainly nothing to be ashamed of. It’s important to remember you’re not alone – support is available for you whether it’s turning to a member of your family, a friend or a colleague or seeking professional help. If you are struggling, it’s worth checking to see if you have access to an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) through your employer. An EAP provides confidential counselling and support and will help to point you in the right direction. You can also visit the links section below for NHS support.

What's the definition of stress?

Did you know?

  • 49% of the population felt the pandemic has impacted negatively on their mental health and wellbeing (1)
  • 1 in 4 people in the UK said they had feelings of loneliness in the “previous two weeks” (2)
  • 46% experienced more anxiety, 44% more stress, 34% sleep problems, 46% low mood (3)
  • Adults showing symptoms of depression has almost doubled since the pandemic to nearly 1 in 5 (4)
  • Demand for mental health advice and information has increased by 175% since the first lock down (5)
Sources: (1) Public Health England, 2021, (2) Mental Health Foundation 2021, (3) Public Health England, 2021, (4) Office of National Statistics, 2020, (5) Rethink, 2021

Stand UP podcast

How to Stand UP up to everyday stress

This Stand UP podcast, lasts around 18 minutes and is packed with information to help yourself and others stand up to everyday stress.
Key topics covered:

  • What is stress
  • The stigma and myths associated with everyday stress
  • How to identify stress in yourself and others
  • Typical triggers of stress
  • Where you can go for help and support


 

 

Activities to help manage everyday stress

Watch the video on what you can do for stress

Professor Anna Whittaker, psychologist and professor of behavioural medicine, says: “Taking control of the situation when you’re feeling stressed is really empowering.”
Click here to watch the video

Test your knowledge below on the myths vs facts of everyday stress

Colouring pens at the ready!

Why not download and print our colouring image. All you need are a few colouring pens and a nice quiet spot and you’re away! The exercise might help you to relax and focus your thoughts on colour and design. Don’t be too hard on yourself if you go over the lines though – remember it’s not a competition.
Click here to download the image as a printable PDF

Stand UP webinar

Welcome to the Stand UP to everyday stress webinar

This Stand UP webinar lasts around 15 minutes. It’s important that if you recognise stress in yourself or someone close to you consider reaching out for help and talk to someone.
Key topics covered:

  • Poor mental health can happen to anybody
  • Understand the prevalence of poor mental health using specific links to COVID-19 and mental health data
  • Understanding signs, indicators and contributing factors of stress
  • Difference between stress and pressure
  • Where you can go for help and support

 

 

 

For employers

Useful resources to download

To help your company promote the activities to your workforce and signpost to support, we’ve designed an A4 printable poster, digital banners to use on social media or your intranet and a handy toolkit which includes exercises and helpful handouts to help your employees Stand UP to everyday stress.

Feel free to download and share, print and put them up, or simply email them to all of your employees.

Digital Banners

Poster

Toolkit

Want to know more about how Sovereign can support your business? Click here to go to the Sovereign Health Care website.

3 top ‘stress busting’ tips


✓ Becoming your own hero

The first thing we can all do when we’re struggling with stress is to get help. It’s perfectly normal for stress to get on top of us, so we shouldn’t be afraid to admit it. Bearing stress won’t earn you a badge of honour. Holding your hands up to it is what makes you a hero.

✓ Focus on you

Make a list of what’s stressing you out, cross out all those you can’t control and focus and develop a plan for those that you can. Avoid drinking alcohol and drinks which include caffeine, they will not help you sleep and facing the day after a great night’s sleep will really help.

✓ Get active

Try and go outside and get some fresh air during the day. Perhaps find a buddy at home or at work to join you for a walk; surrounding yourself with trusted friends and colleagues can help when times are tough.

If you’re stressed, whether by your job or something more personal, the first step to feeling better is to identify the cause. Why not visit the NHS website to view more stress busting tips. https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/self-help/guides-tools-and-activities/tips-to-reduce-stress/