HOW TO BREAK THE CIRCLE OF STRESS Many people are overwhelmed with pressures from management, colleagues, customers and their own anxieties about Covid-19 in what may feel like a ‘circle of stress’. We’ve all experienced the ramifications of the coronavirus, which have included drastic changes to working life and restricted freedom of movement. However, the last year has also seen a surge in mental ill-health that has had its own effects on people and society. Compared to last year, rates of depression have doubled,1 anxiety has significantly increased, 2 and now 69% of people report that the coronavirus has been the most stressful period of their entire career. 3 We may all be trying to support those around us, whether they’re our customers, friends, family or colleagues, while also coping with the impact of coronavirus on our own lives. Here are some top tips to break the ‘circle of stress’.
32 schoolnotices.co.uk SPRING 2021
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Practice detachment from work If you’ve had a bad day at work, you might carry that low mood into your own time even once work has finished. However, instead of ruminating, psychologists recommend practising detachment,4 which creates a mental break between your work and leisure time so work stress can effectively be switched off. This can be done via ‘transition rituals’ of your own choosing, like taking a bath, walking the dog (if you have one), meditating or listening to music or a certain podcast (though news podcasts are not recommended for this).
