WARNING: The content of this article explores the impact of suicide and may not be an easy read, and may trigger some. This year we mark ‘Stress Awareness Month’ for the 30th year in a row. I’ve been head of The Stress Management Society for almost two decades now, and we have been committed since our inception to making the world a happier, healthier more resilient place. This isn’t just my job, it’s my ikigai- my very reason for being. The 1st of April marks the beginning of this month-long annual campaign to shine a light on the importance of managing stress and increasing our resilien ..read more

The last 18 months have been challenging for most of us for so many reasons, and this has only further highlighted the importance of having the ability to experience and express our emotions. This is much more important than we may appreciate. Emotional Management As the felt response to a given situation, emotions play a key part in our reactions. When we are in tune with them, we have access to important data that helps with: decision-making relationship success day-to-day interactions self-care work performance While emotions can have a helpful role in our daily lives, they can also take ..read more

Take back control It’s now been 16 months since the first Lockdown was announced. At that point, we were led to believe that by the end of spring 2020 life would go back to normal. Sadly that wasn’t the case and as time progressed further assurances were made and then reneged. When a way out (by way of the vaccine) came to light at the end of last year it seemed there was finally light at the end of the tunnel. Yet the proposed ‘Freedom Day’ of the 21st June 2021, which many have relied on as the day to finally start rebuilding our lives and come out of pandemic hibernation, was sadly taken aw ..read more

The last 18 months have been challenging for most of us for so many reasons, and this has only further highlighted the importance of having the ability to experience and express our emotions. This is much more important than we may appreciate. As the felt response to a given situation, emotions play a key part in our reactions. When we are in tune with them, we have access to important data that helps with: decision-making relationship success day-to-day interactions self-care work performance While emotions can have a helpful role in our daily lives, they can also take a toll on our emotion ..read more

It’s now been 16 months since the first Lockdown was announced. At that point, we were lead to believe that by the end of spring 2020 life would go back to normal. Sadly that wasn’t the case and as time progressed further assurances were made and then reneged. When a way out (by way of the vaccine) came to light at the end of last year it seemed there was finally light at the end of the tunnel. Yet the proposed ‘Freedom Day’ of the 21st June 2021, which many have relied on as the day to finally start rebuilding our lives and come out of pandemic hibernation, was sadly taken away from us on Mon ..read more

The fifth pillar of Wellness to achieve optimal wellbeing: Spiritual Spiritual wellbeing ultimately represents our connection to ourselves and the world around us. It is the ability to experience and integrate meaning and purpose in life through connection with oneself and others, as well as through other contexts in life such as music, art, literature, nature or something greater than oneself. It is about the relationships we build; the positive engagement with others, self and the environment. Therefore, it doesn’t necessarily only reflects religious beliefs. However, for those who have reli ..read more

Women2day this week looks at how stress is different for males and females. You might not have realised it, but April is Stress Awareness Month. Every April since 1992, health care professionals join forces to try and increase public awareness about the causes and cures of stress. I don’t think I know anyone who hasn’t been affected by stress at some point in their life. There are so many reasons why we can feel stressed -whether it be with our jobs, our relationships or our friendships. It happens to all of us, and while sometimes it can serve as a motivating factor – the usual ramifications ..read more

On Wednesday 1st February, The Stress Management Society and RESCUE celebrate their second annual Wellbeing Wednesday to encourage everyone to bring a moment of calm into their increasingly challenging lives. On Wednesday 1st February, The Stress Management Society and RESCUE celebrate their second annual Wellbeing Wednesday to encourage everyone to bring a moment of calm into their increasingly challenging lives. Wellbeing is expressed as the state of being comfortable, healthy and happy and this year the focus is on the Ultimate Wellbeing Environment – how taking control of our surrounding ..read more

There is a lot you can do to reduce the pressure of your job, finds Aimme Stanton. In 2014/2015, 440,000 people in the UK reported work-related stress at a level they believed was making them ill. French workers have officially been given the ‘right to disconnect’. As of midnight on 01 January 2017 a new employment law was passed in France to give workers the right to ignore their emails outside of working hours. Not logging off after work is effectively unpaid overtime and a factor that’s actually causing burnout and unneeded stress to millions of lives. But it’s not just the French that suff ..read more

IF THE thought of Christmas fills you with dread, follow our handy guide to a stress-free Yule. As the annual binge-fest that is Christmas approaches, do you ever wonder whether all the planning, preparation and rushing around is worth it – or if there is any way of making it easier? Many people find Christmas overwhelming but there are ways of making the festival less of a strain, according to the Stress Management Society’s Neil Shah. “Start now and always give yourself a time buffer,” advises Neil, a spokesman for Rescue Remedy. “Draft a clear to-do list so you can de-junk your mind, then p ..read more