There are many things you can do to reduce the amount of stress you feel and improve overall physical and emotional health. A few suggestions include:
Identify the causes
Some of the things that cause anxiety are obvious, but other causes might not be so obvious. Is it constant traffic congestion? Hearing upsetting news on television or radio? Being around negative people? Examine your life to understand what brings on tension so you can best identify how to cope with those situations.
Talk to someone
Talking to someone can help you cope with stress by distracting you from your stressful thoughts or releasing some of the built-up tension by discussing it. Try talking things through with a friend, work colleague, or even a trained professional. This can help you find solutions to your stress and put your problems into perspective.
Practice relaxation techniques
Try to relax with some stress-reduction techniques. By sitting in a comfortable, quiet environment, closing your eyes and freeing your mind from its many concerns for even a few minutes each day, you can learn to achieve relaxation quickly. Do not worry if you find it difficult to relax at first. Relaxation is a skill that needs to be learned and will improve with practice.
CONNECT WITH RESOURCES
E(F)AP resources and assistance are available to U.S. and Canadian Mauser Packaging Solutions employees and members of their household through our benefit programs.*
U.S.: THE HARTFORD: Enhanced Ability Assist® - Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Call toll free 1-800-96-HELPS (1-800-964-3577) or visit www.guidanceresources.com.
View EAP Flyer (English)
View EAP Flyer (Spanish)
Canada: Manulife – Homewood Health/Santé: Resilience® Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP)
Call toll free 1-866-644-0326 or visit www.manulife.ca.
*Resources and assistance available regardless of enrollment in healthcare benefits.
Note: Similar programs may be offered in other countries through Company provided offerings or government healthcare systems. Check with your local Human Resources representative for available resources.
Keep a journal
When you feel stressed or overwhelmed, it can be helpful to set aside some time to sort out these feelings. A common vehicle where you can express these feelings is by writing in a journal. If writing is not your preferred form of expression, you can also try drawing, painting or another form of creative expression in which you can vent your feelings in a healthy way.
Laugh and learn from mistakes
Instead of getting irritated, laugh at life's annoyances and learn from your mistakes. Humor is a powerful tool in helping build resilience, the ability to bounce back from negative events.
Manage your time
Surprises and unexpected events cannot be controlled but forgetting about an obligation or appointment you knew about before-hand can be easily avoided by keeping a calendar or day planner. Allow ample time for travel and surround potentially stressful events on your schedule with free time for yourself.
Get enough sleep
Not getting enough rest makes many people irritable and less-productive during the day. Staying up too late can lead to oversleeping, causing you to begin your day behind schedule, thereby increasing tension in your life as you rush to make up for lost time. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends that adults get between seven and nine hours of sleep each night.
Spend time doing things you enjoy
Stress is most often brought about by the tasks and events we do not enjoy. While we cannot eliminate all the chores, trials and hardships from life, we can counteract them by making and taking time to do activities that bring us pleasure.
Avoid nicotine
Try to avoid or at least reduce your consumption of nicotine. Not only is nicotine harmful to your overall health, but it also acts as a stimulant which means it can increase your level of stress rather than reduce it.
Exercise
Stressful situations increase the level of stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol in your body. Physical exercise can help cope with an excess of stress hormones and restore your body and mind to a calmer, more relaxed state. Try to incorporate some physical activity into your daily routine on a regular basis, either before or after work or at lunchtime.
If your stress or anxiety does not respond to coping strategies, or if you feel that either stress or anxiety are affecting your day-to-day functioning or mood, consider talking to a mental health professional who can help you understand what you are experiencing and provide you additional coping tools.
