Assuming you are celebrating Christmas, there is a lot you can do to reduce the stress involved. In fact, a healthy amount of stress will help you get ready for the big day.

Be organized. Make a budget if you need to. Make a shopping list for presents and cards and start shopping now. Plan the festive meal or book a table at a restaurant. Get help if you can.

Look after yourself. Allow yourself time out for relaxation and exercise. Keep a healthy diet, watch your alcohol consumption, and get sufficient sleep.

Make sure your children get some quiet time (NOT in front of the TV, computer or Xbox), and some fresh air each day. Spread the distribution of presents over the day (or several days).

Let go of perfectionism. Anticipate that something might go wrong or someone may say the wrong thing.

Don’t take things personally (especially when someone doesn’t like your present). Accept that everyone is different.

Communicate clearly. Don’t expect others to mind-read what you think or how you feel or what you want them to do.

Allow yourself to have fun. A pinch of humour usually comes handy, too.

· First of all, stay active: Get out of bed in the morning, groom yourself, and set yourself a task for the day.
· Take care of yourself: Eat healthily, exercise, and get a decent amount of sleep.
· Do something enjoyable each day.
· Set yourself small, achievable goals that will help you improve your situation and make a list of actions that will help you achieve these goals. These action lists should include a timeframe/deadline.
· Make a chart on a piece of paper, and write down on one side the disadvantages and problems of your situation and on the other side the advantages and opportunities. If you can’t think of anything positive ask yourself: ‘If there was anything positive, what would this be?’.
· Stop negative thoughts: If you get carried away by worries and anxieties, say to yourself in a firm and convincing tone (silently or aloud): STOP! Then think exactly the opposite (even if it is not true or you don’t believe it). Or use a comforting phrase like ‘I’ll be all right’, ‘I can handle this’, ‘this will pass’.
· Think of a time when you mastered a similar situation.
· Surround yourself with supportive, positive and cheerful people.
· Smile.
· Get help if necessary.

Health and Wellbeing in Education 10-11th November – NEC, Birmingham
http://www.healthwellbeingeducation.co.uk

The HSE is still looking for more managers to help test their new online management tools: http://www.hse.gov.uk/stress/volunteer.htm?ebul=stress/oct09&cr=01

Find out what inspectors are looking for when they visit an organisation – read this new stress topic inspection pack:
http://news.hse.gov.uk/2009/09/17/stress-inspection-pack/?rss=Stress.htm?ebul=stress/oct09&cr=02

1. Set aside certain times, when you check your e-mails and stick to them. Switch off your e-mail notifications. Tell people about this and ask them to ring you if a matter is really urgent.

2. Make use of rules and folders to organize incoming e-mails. Separate private and work e-mails.

3. Read important e-mails first and attend to them first.

4. Never reply to or forward spam or chain e-mails.

5. Reduce the number of e-mails you send. Reduce the use of ‘reply to all’, ‘cc’, and ‘bcc’.

6. Don’t get distracted by hyperlinks.

7. Look out of the window. There is a life outside!

Smiling is infectious,
You can catch it, like the flu.

I walked around the corner,
and someone saw my grin.
When he smiled, I realised,
I had passed it on to him.

I thought about the grin
and then realised its worth.
A single little smile like mine
could travel round the Earth.

So if you feel a smile begin,
don’t leave it undetected.
Lets start an epidemic quick,
and get the world infected!

Laughing for stress relieve really works. Whether you laugh out loud or smirk silently, whether it’s real or fake, whether you do it yourself or see/hear somebody else. Laughing triggers the release of endorphins which make you feel good and release tension.

Keeping your job can be just as stressful as losing your job it seems. Personnel Today reported in March that employees increasingly seek help for anxiety, depression, stress and addiction-related issues. The Priory, the UK’s most famous rehab centre, has witnessed a 20% increase in inquiries over the last six months, while Capio Nightingale Hospital, London’s only independent mental-health hospital, has seen a 200% rise in treatment inquiries between July and September 2008. A survey by Coventry University and the Work Life Balance Centre found stress was rife among workers nationwide, with 62% of employees feeling their workload has increased in the past year, and almost one-third feeling ‘out of control’ in their jobs. This led to a rise in absenteeism in the past year, with 58% of the days lost being attributed to stress-related factors. ]]> http://stressmanagementdiary.com/2009/04/27/stress-is-a-problem-for-employed-and-un-employed-alike/feed/ 0