How can UK workers de-stress?

The UK is a nation of stressed-out workaholics. According to research, 48 per cent of UK workers do little to nothing to relieve work-related stress. A lack of free time is frequently cited as the main reason for this, with money woes also mentioned.

Tackling workplace stress is something that can be done in and out of the workplace. In this article, we’ll be exploring some of the ways both employers and employees can work on this issue.

Outside the workplace

In an ideal world, work should be left in the office, and personal matters should live at home. Creating this distinction and sticking with it can, however, be tricky.

For many of us, thinking of ways to destress makes us think about taking up a hobby or booking in for a massage. But in reality, stressbusting can be as luxurious or as thrifty as you like!

Luxury stress-buster

Just finished a big project at work? If you’ve got the money saved away, or had a nice little bonus pay come in with your wages, why not treat yourself? A great way to do just that, as well as take a little ‘me-time’ away from work emails and digital distractions would be to head out of the city, maybe escaping in a log cabin or hiring one of the rural Northumberland cottages with hot tub facilities (of course you deserve a hot tub!).

Whether you choose to wander along the coast or take a stroll through the trees, time away from screens and immersed in nature can certainly be beneficial. According to one study, Alan Ewert and Yun Chang note that “while individuals may select different locations or activities for reducing stress, for many, natural environments may be useful in their attempts to reduce their levels of stress.”

Mid-tier stressbuster

Rough week? We’ve all been there. If you’re looking for a small-scale treat that works wonders on your stress levels, do a quick search for a Thai massage service in your town or city — chances are, there’s one hidden away somewhere near you!

Thai massages can be a fantastic way to not only unwind after a stressful week (or month), but also to help with relieving muscular tension.

Thrifty stressbuster

For a go-to destress that is as cheap or lavish as you want it to be: run a bath and have a nice, warm soak. Whether it’s just half an hour to yourself with a splash of bubble bath or an hour long, Lush bath bomb-infused and wine-glass-touting home-spa experience, simply allowing yourself a moment away and alone can work wonders for your relaxation. Add in some nice hot water and relaxing fragrances and you’ve got your own mini-destress moment that you can fall back on anytime during the week.

Inside the workplace

Of course, there’s no point relaxing outside of work only to arrive at the office and be hit with more-than-acceptable levels of stress! There are a number of ways in which your wellbeing at work can be made much more efficient in managing stress effectively though.

It’s more than just adding plants and offering yoga sessions: though both these things can build a better, more positive environment to work in, they don’t address the matter at its core. A little stress is to be expected in the workplace, and so long as it is manageable with the help of aforementioned perks and offers, it can be beneficial. But if the workplace is becoming overwhelmingly stressful for many employees, it is up to the employer to look for, and to deal with the cause directly.

It might be a communication issue. Take a look at your current methods of communication and processes in the workflow. Are they getting ‘stuck’ at the same point regularly? Highlight these for your employer and suggest a communications review if so.

It could be a workload issue. Look at your workload realistically — could you address this with better organisation skills, or is your employer genuinely placing too much on your plate?

It could be a learning issue as well. Do you have the correct tools to manage stress effectively? If not, you may have unwittingly picked up some bad habits for ‘dealing’ with stress along the way. If you suspect this may be the case, it’s certainly worth speaking to your employer about running some wellness workshops to help you learn new, productive ways of not only managing stress, but channelling it more effectively.

Stress is often mistakenly treated as something to get rid of entirely. In truth, it’s all about managing it at a level where it is a fuel, rather than a hinderance, to your workload. By applying suitable ways to de-stress and reduce this pressure to a manageable, healthy level, you’ll see your productivity and health improve.