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Psychosynthesis counsellorand life coach Eve MenezesCunningham answers yourcareer queries

Q PLEASE HELP!

"I used to love my job but

now I feel so fraught at work

and stressed out even when I think

about it. How can I and my team beat

workplace stress?"

AEve says: Some stress - eustress

('good stress') - can be exhilarating,

helping us grow, develop and thrive.

Unfortunately, too much stress becomes distress

and impacts not only our wellbeing but our ability

to make good decisions and to concentrate.

I love that you're thinking about your team

as well. You can work together to put systems

in place and make de-stressing the obvious

choice for all of you.

Try to identify

your stress triggers,

such as dealing with

particular types helping us grow, developand thrive"

"Some stress (known aseustress) can be exhilarating,

of tasks or with

specific people.

Can you alleviate these specific stresses?

Do you need to have a conversation about

workload expectations? Do you perhaps need

to set better boundaries?

Now ask yourself: What does stress feel

like to you? Do you feel it in your chest? As a

neadache? Nausea? By paying closer attention,

/ou'll likely notice your stress signals sooner

and be better able to manage things by taking

/ourself for a quick walk around the block,

wringing your attention to your breathing and

dentifying other ways to take better care of

'ourself. Encourage your team to think about

heir stress triggers and symptoms, too, and to

I analyse the workplace. Is there space for a quiet j

I area people can just sit and breathe? It may seem I

i self-indulgent, but when you think of all the time j

I and money lost due to stress-related work

i absences, it's worth experimenting with.

Activity is wonderful for getting us back into I

j our bodies and allowing our system to do what i

I we crave in fight or flight mode - run or work out. j

; Can you run up and down a flight of stairs a few j

times? Try holding I

the yoga chair pose '•

for a few minutes '•

(minimal space is

required and you'll j

be working your

whole system, not to i

mention burning off those stress hormones).

Consider encouraging colleagues to have

quick breaks and shoot a few hoops (remember I

Clooney and co on ER?). For lunchtimes, early i

mornings and evenings, you might consider

something like yoga - many instructors visit

workplaces so your whole team might benefit

from a weekly class. |

When we let ourselves listen, we know

exactly what our bodies, minds and souls need j

us to do. Worrying about how things will look

disempowers us. Encourage your whole team

to take better care of themselves - you might

even transform your entire workplace. j

EVE'S TOP TIPSto-tricky situation...

j; fdentify your stress triggers. What^stresses you out? How do you know

^y^ogicalty) that you're stressed?

2 So what you've tried so far hasn't^•worked? HOW can you ̂ things aseasyaspossib]eforyourseif J -

™es you need stress relief the most?

O Encourage your team to get^ involved. Learn from each other

and Support everyone in taking better

business will benefit.

Find out more about Eve Menezes

Cunningham's counselling, coaching,

yoga therapy and other services at

The Wellbeing at Work Consultancy

u wellbeing-at-work.co.uk

8 07584 35496

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