International Stress Awareness Week shone a bright spotlight on the need to rethink how we perceive and manage stress, emphasising its potential as a powerful force for growth and resilience.
Research shows that stress triggers differ significantly from one person to another, influenced by factors like personality, environment, and life experiences. So how then can businesses tackle stress for their whole workforce when we are all so different?
Most generic stress management solutions understandably fall short with learnings often quickly falling to the wayside. Tailored approaches that align business needs, team and organisational culture, and individual learning can be far more effective.
Stress: It’s Not All Bad
One of the most harmful misconceptions about stress is the belief that it is inherently negative. In reality, stress is an essential part of life which has been central to our survival as species and can be highly beneficial when managed effectively. Kelly McGonigal, a health psychologist, argues that stress can enhance focus, resilience, and motivation. “When you change your mind about stress, you can change your body’s response to stress,” she explains.
Statistics support this view: a study published in Health Psychology found that individuals who perceive stress as beneficial had lower mortality rates compared to those who viewed it as harmful. Stress, when embraced, can sharpen our individual focus and wellbeing, while driving productivity and productivity on an organisation-wide level.
Stress as a Force for Good: The Role of Under the Tree
The Under the Tree initiative embodies the idea that stress can be a catalyst for positive change, growth and performance. This free, eight-part programme offers tools and strategies for individuals and organisations to better understand their relationship with stress, in order to harness its potential.
What We’ve Achieved So Far
In its six sessions, Under the Tree has tackled some of the essential holistic aspects of stress management:
- Introduction to Stress: we covered the basic of stress – from its origins to its impact
- Rewiring our Stress Response: we looked at mindfulness versus mindlessness as stress responses and provided some practices that you can try
- Working with Emotions in Times of Stress: we explored the role of effective emotions and how to create emotional freedom
- The Power of Breath: we explored how breath fosters resilience and facilitates a grounded and empowered approach in the quest for better managing stress
- Calming the Body and Mind through Sound: we talked about the impact of sound on our emotions, thoughts, and physiology
- Nourishment for Stress Management: we covered the impact that stress can have on gut health and the importance of nutrition
If you would like to watch one of these sessions or find the resources, please visit seijaku.org.uk/under-the-tree/resources
What’s Next
With two sessions remaining in the 2024 programme, Under the Tree continues to deliver actionable insights. During the final two live sessions, we will cover:
- The Relationship Between Sleep and Stress (27 11 2024): we will discuss the science of sleep and its relationship to stress, providing practical solutions to improve sleep and decrease stress
- The Essential Role of Rest and Self-care (11 12 2024): we will explore the different types of rest, the role of energy management, and the power of celebrating progress
If you would like to sign up for either of these sessions, please visit seijaku.org.uk/under-the-tree/schedule
Conclusion
Stress is not our enemy. It’s a force for good when we understand it and have ways to manage it more effectively. By recognising your individual relationship with stress, challenging negative perceptions, and leveraging programmes like Under the Tree, you can unlock the benefits of stress for personal growth, team productivity, and organisational success.
