This week, I was honoured to be reappointed Chair of Isma UK (International Stress Management Association), the UKs lead professional body for stress management, well-being and performance set up in 1984. Its activities include the well-established National Stress Awareness Day and as part of its objectives supports actions to provide masterclasses, CPD events and conventions for professional development and regional activity throughout the UK.
Now, you may wonder why ISMA is still needed after all these years. The simple answer is that managing stress and building resilience is even more important today than it was all those years ago because of increased competition and greater demands.
However, employers are now learning the value of building a healthy workplace culture to obtain optimum performance and competitive advantage by introducing initiatives such as stress awareness training programmes.
So let us look at some of the questions that are often posed in relation to the management of stress.
How do we define stress? ‘Stress’ is the adverse reaction people have to excessive pressure or demands placed upon them. It arises when they are forced to acknowledge that they have insufficient resources with which to cope with those demands at a particular point in time.
What causes us to be ‘stressed’? Very often, it is the way that we think about a situation rather than the situation itself, that causes stress. Problems occur when the pressure we are under seems to be out of our control because we perceive ourselves as not possessing the necessary skills to combat the demands upon us, and so we feel unable to cope.
Everyone will experience stress at some point in their lives and people will react differently to the excess pressure experienced. They may find themselves challenged by work issues, business or personal relationships and may seek support to deal with the situation, or they may not.
However, often stress is not recognised or acknowledged by the individual concerned who will make excuses for not being able to manage a specific situation.
Some pressure can, of course, be of benefit but excessive pressure can seriously affect our health, even permanently, and adversely affect performance and productivity.
How can I recognise stress in myself? When challenges become overwhelming, we may react by becoming anxious, depressed, demotivated, irritable or angry although the way we respond to excessive pressure is determined by our life experiences, state of health, personality type and genetic traits.
Is stress manageable? We can all learn how to manage stress, but first of all we need to appreciate the importance of identifying situations that are beyond the resources available to us and implement the strategies to manage the issue successfully.
How do you manage excessive pressure? The answer is to build-up our coping resources to be more resilient. But we need to appreciate that to suffer from stress is not a ‘sign of weakness.’ A modicum of pressure can stimulate and motivate but excess pressure, if prolonged, can cause physical and mental damage.
Which personality type is more susceptible to stress?
Type ‘A’ personalities can have a greater propensity to higher levels of stress because they may work and live at a higher pitch and are usually highly competitive and ambitious; have few outside interests and drive both themselves and others, hard. They need to learn how to manage their stress before stress manages them and it is not always easy to work, or live, with such personalities.
How can I better manage pressure?
Tackle one task at a time — don’t try to multitask.
Take regular breaks during the day.
Be disciplined to turn off your phone.
Switch off your email alerts to prevent interruptions.
Identify priorities and keep to them.
Exercise regularly and eat healthily.
Stress is, unfortunately, endemic in our society and we need to learn how to control it. If you want to keep up with latest research, techniques, trends and events or wish to engage the services of a stress management professional, then join us at ISMA on the web and social media.
The author is a BBC Guest-Broadcaster and Motivational Speaker. She is CEO of an international Stress Management consultancy and the author of ‘Show Stress Who’s Boss!’.
Key points
* Stress can cause permanent damage, if prolonged,
* Learning to manage excess pressure is vital.
* Try to identify potential stressors, as early as possible.
The writer is CEO of an international stress management consultancy and the author of ‘Show Stress Who’s Boss!’.
