Stress is a subject which I have written about before (November 2023). At that time I was prompted by the discovery that 1st November 2023 was National Stress Awareness Day and I was interested in how exercise had the potential to play a part in helping to alleviate the impact of stress for sufferers.

You may know that April is Stress Awareness Month (and has been since 1992), so I couldn’t let it go by without revisiting the issue, especially as it is a condition which is affecting vast numbers of us. The Mental Health Foundation has published that 74% of UK adults have felt so stressed at some point over the last year they felt overwhelmed or unable to cope.

According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) almost two million workers in Great Britain reported suffering from work-related ill health in 2022/23, with approximately half of the cases caused by stress, depression or anxiety. And apparently the current rate of self-reported work-related stress, depression or anxiety is at a higher level than before Covid.

So, having talked about the benefits of exercise last November, for this month’s piece I thought I would touch on another approach in addition to exercise which can relieve stress.

The HSE has launched a campaign called “Working Minds” which aims to encourage employers to support their employees’ mental health during Stress Awareness Month.

As a Life Coach I find this initiative resonates with me and I am fully behind it. And it’s not just relevant to the work situation. Being able to organise and feel in control of both your personal and professional life can have a huge positive impact on your mental health. When we feel stressed and overwhelmed, making any steps towards positive changes can feel like one task too many, and so we can end up shutting down and ‘sticking our heads in the sand’.

Sound familiar?

Life coaching offers a method of countering negative mindsets exacerbated by pressure and anxiety and can bring to the fore positive attitudes and emotions which serve to assist in neutralising stress. In the process, you feel empowered and confident to make small steps which benefit YOU. When we don’t prioritise OURSELVES, ultimately eventually we burn-out through self-neglect.

The benefits of physical exercise and life coaching therapies can reduce stress levels significantly. If you would like to find out more please contact me!