6 tips for minimizing stress

August 13, 2024 2:54 PM

Young woman looking at phone worried hand on head

It's National Wellness Month — and it's clear that Americans could use some extra wellness right now.

It's been a stressful year. The American Psychiatric Association reports that 73% of adults are concerned about the presidential election and 77% are worried about the economy. A survey from Gallup found that other topics — accessible and affordable healthcare, crime and violence and the quality of the environment, among others — are also impacting people's well-being.

The constant exposure to these issues allows few breaks from the turmoil, says Trina Clayeux, CEO of mental health platform Give An Hour.

"How we get and consume information — media coverage, social media ads — has changed so much over time, and it has resulted in an increase in stress, anxiety and emotional reactions," she says. "It feels like there's pressure that you must have an opinion and a position, and that being neutral is not as acceptable as it used to be."

Besides the focus on current events, personal concerns are also weighing on people's minds. Eighty-eight percent said they experience some level of stress over money, and 65% said it is the predominant stress factor in their life, according to financial news and market data company MarketWatch. Other day-to-day responsibilities — caregiving, work, relationships — add to the list of potential stressors.

For the sake of their physical and mental wellness, employees must figure out ways to calm the storm, and employers can help.

"As an employee, we have a responsibility for working out how we regulate and put practices in place for our own mental health," says Clayeux. "And then, how do you lean into your employer? It's not just on one or the other; we all have a responsibility and a role to play."

Clayeux shares six ways workers and leaders can help alleviate stress amid ongoing unrest.

Limit social media exposure

On average, adults spend more than two hours per day on social media, about an hour of which takes place during the workday, according to data from Zippia. In addition to lost productivity on the job, people who are on social media at night may be losing sleep — a big factor in someone's overall mental wellness, says Clayeux. Cutting down on engagement with social media apps is an easy way to cut out stressful stimulation.

"You're looking for the big pieces of your life that are impacted, but also the ones that you have that intentional influence over, and sleep would be a good one," Clayeux says. "We underestimate how great sleep is at regulating our wisdom, and if we're up all night scrolling, it can get away from us pretty easily."

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Take care of your body

Giving yourself time to decompress and being intentional about your health can help keep your mind clear, says Clayeux. Employers can encourage these behaviors with perks like short breaks built into the workday, healthy snacks or catered lunches, and wellness programs and benefits.

"Getting out in nature, going for a walk — these are practices you can do that are low cost, easy access, and have a giant return on investment," Clayeux says. "Watch your nutrition, be mindful about your alcohol use; these are some of the different ways you feel better."

Educate employees on available wellness resources

Almost 70% of employers have improved their mental health offerings such as employee assistance programs, available platforms and expanded mental health coverage, according to Mercer, a compensation and benefits data company. But for these to be effective, employees have to know they exist and how to navigate them.

"What are your employee assistance programs and how do people access them?" says Clayeux. "Have somebody from your EAP benefits come and walk people through the benefits from a third party, showing them how to actually access those benefits. We do that multiple times a year at our organization; it really helps for people to see the screen, to see what you click on, and just to hear from someone else about what that process is like."

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Reach out if you see someone struggling

When a work culture is built around values such as psychological safety, inclusion and open communication, workers will have an easier time giving or receiving help, Clayeux says. Now is a good time for leaders and employees to double down on promoting a supportive, cohesive work environment. Clayeux encourages managers and coworkers to be mindful of the behaviors of team members that indicate they may be struggling, and to check in if they feel it's appropriate.

"We don't do well when things are not predictable, consistent and safe," she says. "Watch for signs of emotional dysregulation, things like feeling more agitated, feeling more withdrawn, feeling hopeless, a personality change — part of it is recognizing those signs, but then also knowing how to ask people [how they're doing]."

Allow time for impactful activities

Some employees may feel better if they get involved with whatever is causing them stress, such as by volunteering at local election poll sites or with an environmental nonprofit. Others may choose to disconnect from stressors by spending their time in ways that bring themselves and those around them joy, such as donating time at a hospital or shelter. Either way, it's important to take time to reset, and for employers to make this option available to their employees with flexible time off, Clayeux says.

"One of the best ways of reducing feelings of anxiety is action, and the first step is giving back and doing for others," she says. "It's a reciprocal model where you can reduce your anxiety, you are doing something that's very local, you're doing something for other people. It takes you outside of yourself and puts you in a place of service, which has a really strong mental health benefit coming back to you."

Keep the conversation going

Besides providings good wellness benefits and creating a supportive, safe environment, Clayeux suggests employers offer training in areas such as civil discourse, conflict resolution and resilience. Giving them mental wellness tools and best practices is a good way to make sure they're better equipped to handle whatever events come their way.

"We are all recognizing that mental health is an essential part of what we're doing — how we show up, how we support each other, and the intentionality behind it," says Clayeux. "Hopefully that will also be the thread we can grab as we try to figure out how to manage in a healthy way through this season and into the next."