Stress Awareness Month Activities at Work

April is Stress Awareness Month, a time used to highlight the ways in which stress can impact people, and the steps you can take to help manage and relieve stress for yourself and others. Understanding causes of stress as well as stress management and relief activities can help employers reduce unnecessary stress in their teams, during Stress Awareness Month and beyond.

What is Stress Awareness Month?

Since April 1992, Stress Awareness Month has been observed each year as a time to duly point the spotlight on stress. In the largest ever stress survey, 74% of UK adults admitted that stress has made them feel overwhelmed in the past.

Collaboratively, we have a long way to go to tackle this issue – not just outside the workplace either. Absence management providers, Edays, confirmed a drastic increase in stress-related illness days during the first year of the pandemic in the UK during 2020. The shocking findings revealed that there was a 113% rise in staff absence, compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2019. Respondents to this study also said that they would rather take a day off for ‘me time’, over a £200 incentive.

Sick days hurt UK businesses substantially. With the average cost sitting at £618 per day, it’s unfeasible in 2022 to succeed across business landscapes without comprehensive well-being support, that puts the employee experience first. Research shows that for every £1 spent on supporting happiness and fulfilment, a yield of between £3–£6 can be gained in employee engagement and productivity.

Why is Stress Awareness Month important?

Stress Awareness Month is an important time to raise awareness and educate your employees on the reality and impact of stress in their jobs and in their daily lives. Stress Awareness Month initiatives and activities can be used to encourage healthier practices, reduce stigma and foster a stronger sense of community among teams.

Stress Awareness Month is also an important time to reflect on key achievements, attained individually and across the business, and give recognition to your employees. But remember that every day should be a day for recognition – no matter its scale or how it’s shared. From feedback on a job well done, to company-wide superhero nominations.

Types of Stress

Understanding the different types of stress is the first step to helping your employees manage and reduce their stress levels at work.

Acute stress

Usually brief, acute stress is often caused by reactive thoughts – such as uncomfortable situations that have happened, or events coming up.

Episodic acute stress

People with frequent and recurrent episodes of acute stress or triggers, have episodic acute stress. In turn, sufferers often find themselves in a perpetual state of worry and angst.

Chronic stress

Sometimes considered the most harmful, chronic stress can dramatically deteriorate mental and physical health. Unlike acute stress, chronic stress lingers and continues to activate the body's stress response system without relief or relaxation.

Read our previous post for some tips on boosting employee wellbeing, but there are also several external experts that can help shape your HR strategies for managing stress – like The Stress Management Society, Mind and the Mental Health Foundation. Offering a wealth of information, access material on developing emotional resilience, spotting the first warning signs and more.

5 Stress Awareness Month activities & initiatives to implement in your workplace

This April, observe Stress Awareness Month in a meaningful way with these 5 activities and initiatives, from guided meditation sessions and encouraging wellness, to evaluating company practices to make positive changes.

1. Review company practices

One of the most direct ways you can have a positive impact on your employees’ stress levels is by evaluating the processes you have in place which may contribute towards causing stress. Use this month as a catalyst for change within your organisation; adopt more flexible working practices, provide resources for stress management and create a more supportive work environment.

2. Introduce mental health first aiders

If your organisation does not already include trained mental health first aiders, introducing this into your business can have a significant positive impact. Anyone within your business can be trained as a mental health first aider, so offering this to your teams can be a great way to observe Stress Awareness Month. Mental health first aiders are a point of contact for employees who are experiencing a mental health issue or emotional distress, and offer support in a range of ways - whether they need someone to talk to, or support in getting appropriate help.

3. Encourage physical activity

Exercise is a great way to relieve stress, so encouraging your employees to stay active and making sure that they have the flexibility to do this can lead to much happier, and healthier teams. Encouraging employees to get moving can be as simple as giving them an hour out of their day to go for a walk or a run, or could include a team activity day that encourages physical activity like a group climbing or paintballing experience.

4. Guided meditation sessions

Mindfulness meditation is a practice that involves paying attention to thoughts and feelings as they happen, and observing them without judgement. Meditation can be an effective way to relieve feelings of stress in the moment, so allocating time in the working day for a guided meditation session can offer a well-needed moment of relaxation this Stress Awareness Month.

5. Offer wellness breaks

Offering relaxing experiences to your staff members, such as spa days, massages or other calming activities that your employees enjoy can be a great way to encourage wellness and relieve stress. Offering these types of experiences as part of a wider rewards & recognition program not only shows your employees that you care, but also gives them the chance to fully relax, in recognition of their hard work.

Find out how to encourage positive wellbeing all year round

Stress Awareness Month happens in April, but doing what you can to minimise stress in your business should be a key focus all year round. While stress will always exist in some capacity, there are steps you can take to help reduce unnecessary triggers, and help empower your teams to better manage stress in their day to day lives. Reviewing potentially stressful practices, encouraging physical activity and fostering a supportive environment are all ways to help reduce stress in your workplace. If you’re looking to implement wellness into a year round scheme, find out about our employee experience programmes.

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