REWARD
away from payroll and reward. Although we may not want it to, our professional world is affected by our personal world, inevitably the two worlds will overlap and sometimes they will collide. Family members may be ill, or we may have an illness ourselves that’s causing concern. We may be worried about money, and this may be further impacted by the current cost-of-living crisis. There may be an unexpected expense which means the difference between being able to eat or put the heating on. We live in a world where there are so many demands on individuals that sometimes it’s hard to cope. After all, we’re only human. Signs and symptoms of stress, anxiety and depression We may like to think we’re invincible but, we’re not. It’s therefore useful to know what some of the signs of stress, anxiety and depression are, to be able to recognise when we’re affected or if someone we know may be affected. Stress can present itself in so many forms that it may be difficult to know that it is actually stress. The signs can be split into four categories: l physical l behaviour l emotional l thoughts. Physical signs can include tiredness and fatigue. These alone don’t necessarily mean someone is suffering from stress. However, along with other physical signs such as headaches, breathlessness, frequent infections, chest pains, muscle tension / pain and rapid heartbeat could indicate that something isn’t quite right. Our behaviour may also change. We may become withdrawn and self-isolate. Someone may go from being quite outgoing to someone quiet, who doesn’t want to engage in conversations or discussions. Likewise, an individual may suddenly become prone to outbursts of anger. Other behavioural signs could be a loss of appetite, while some may eat more, drink more alcohol, smoke more and / or have trouble sleeping. Emotional and thought signs are similar and include loss of confidence, irritability, hasty decisions and indecisions, decrease in productivity and accuracy, impaired judgement, apathy and alienation. Depression is also an emotional sign of stress, but depression has its own signs
such as low mood, feeling tearful, low self-esteem, feeling hopeless and helpless, difficulty in making decisions and low motivation or interest in things. “What we may think is a small kind word or gesture, may be the one thing that can help someone in a big way” How can we combat stress, anxiety and depression? All the above can have an impact on our health and well-being, some of which can be significant. But how, as non-medical people, do we know if someone is suffering from stress, anxiety or depression? The answer is that we probably don’t. What we can do if we think someone is beginning to show signs is to talk. Women are more likely to talk about such issues than men. Around 40% of men have never spoken to anyone about their mental health. There’s still a stigma around mental health that people are too embarrassed to speak openly about it, and yet most people (when polled) will say their stress levels have increased over the last five years. That first conversation may be the one that starts a road to recovery. Exercise is also a good way to combat stress and most people will probably admit they don’t do enough exercise – ‘I don’t have time; I hate exercise’. How many times have we found an excuse not to do physical exercise? But we don’t need to go to the gym to exercise. We can incorporate exercise into our daily lives by walking up the stairs rather than taking the lift. If we’re walking somewhere, can we walk faster to increase our heart rate a bit? It’s about being intuitive with our time. We all need a balanced life and relaxation is also important. How do we like to unwind? Hopefully, it isn’t reaching for a glass of wine at the end of each day. We may have given up on a hobby because ‘we don’t have time’. Our hobbies may include physical activity such as golf or yoga. Perhaps it’s time to take up that hobby again. If that includes socialising, it doesn’t have to mean we have a night drinking alcohol; we could
be the designated driver for the evening (a good way to be appreciated by our friends!). If you think you may be affected by stress or sense someone else is suffering, seek or provide support. Support can be in various forms; after all we’re all different. Opening up to someone you trust can be the first step. This could be a family member, a friend or a colleague. As individuals, we may not have the answers, but we can help someone seek out more support. How employers can start to help in this space Does your organisation have an employee assistance programme (EAP)? If it does, perhaps a counselling service is provided. Some people may prefer to talk about mental health and their own stresses with someone independent of them. If your organisation doesn’t currently have an EAP, this may be a benefit worth considering. Our employees are our most important resource, and they support the business. Therefore, employers should look to see what support they can provide to assist their most valuable resource. The NHS also offers support which doesn’t need to be accessed through general practitioners. There are several NHS free apps to support with better health such as NHS weight loss plan, NHS drink free days and NHS active 10 walking tracker. There are a lot of resources on the NHS website. Better Health (http://ow.ly/m6w450NGTUa) supports weight loss, getting active, drinking less and quitting smoking. The NHS live well (http://ow.ly/qaw150NGUbL) is a useful resource for sleep and stress, balanced diet, exercise and alcohol advice. In addition, there are free well-being audio guides to support health and well- being, including meditation and ways to relax. Other organisations such as MIND and Headspace also provide support. It important to know there’s support out there. None of us really knows what someone is going through. We all need to remember to be kind to each other and to look out for each other. What we may think is a small kind word or gesture, may be the one thing that can help someone in a big way. Above all, remember, it is okay to not be okay. We all need to support and feel supported by one another. It is time to talk. n
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| Professional in Payroll, Pensions and Reward |
Issue 90 | May 2023
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