Money worries, workplace issues, health concerns, global conflict – there’s no shortage of causes that can lead to feelings of overwhelm and stress. In fact, Mental Health UK report nearly 1 in 5 of us feel stressed every day, and this could be even higher amongst young people aged 18-24. What’s more, UK workers are increasingly reporting feelings of loneliness, and this can also be a driver of stress.
Stress is a complex topic and is often caused by more than one thing. So, we could be forgiven for feeling helpless to know what to do, or who to turn to. That’s why we’ve written our article to support this year’s Stress Awareness Month campaign – and to give everyone the confidence to be the person that brings about change.
Whether you just help yourself cope better, or are able to help others too, we hope you’ll feel that you can face up to your stress – and thrive.
Inspired to #BeTheChange
Think you can’t make change happen? Maybe your personal situation, whether at home or at work seems too complex to resolve. You might look to others for help, only to find that they too have their own issues to manage. In these situations, the most positive of us don’t give up – we realise that change is within our own power. And history has given us some inspiring examples.
Emmeline Pankhurst was frustrated with the UK Government’s unwillingness to change. She organised the suffragette movement and ultimately gave women a voice with the vote. And Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. didn’t wait for someone else to act, they believed that their voices could make a difference and create change. If they can all shape a generation, we can take our own steps to create positive change for our mental wellbeing.
Your stress ‘oxygen mask’
If you’ve ever been on a flight and heard the safety announcement, you’ll know that in order to help someone use an oxygen mask, you first have to put one on yourself. There’s a good analogy here. It’s a potentially stressful situation, and in order to help others, you need to be operating in the right conditions – and that means looking after yourself first.
Likewise, if you are feeling stressed and anxious at home and or at work, there are some things you need to do first – and only you can do them. Think of these tips as being your personal stress ‘oxygen mask’ – giving you the strength to better cope.
Prioritise your sleep: We all need our sleep to focus and remain alert to combat stress – but we often do a good job of making it hard to achieve. We drink too much caffeine too late into the evening and late working, along with constantly checking our phones, feeds the bright light that stops the brain unwinding and can be an inhibitor to decent sleep. So, in order to sleep better, create a clean and restful sleep routine and avoid caffeine after 4 pm.
Improve your exercise: Don’t let any current stress make you lose the urge to exercise. Physical activity helps the body cope with stress by releasing ‘feel-good’ brain chemicals like endorphins, while also lowering stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline. Almost any form of exercise or movement can increase your fitness levels while decreasing your stress. The most important thing is to pick an activity that you enjoy. Even a few minutes of walking can produce a better sense of wellbeing.
Connect with someone: You may have noticed increased coverage of loneliness in the workplace. Research by Mental Health UK found that one in five (20%) workers feel lonely at work on a typical working day. It can be even worse for remote workers where the signs of stress can go unnoticed. A sense of belonging and connection can help reduce feelings of loneliness but sadly, many don’t feel able to mention their loneliness through stigma – so simple conversations that could help don’t happen. If you are a line manager, check in with your team members and if you are experiencing loneliness yourself, try to build a support network of team members who can help increase vital conversation and contact time.
How to help others manage their stress
If you are sleeping better, exercising more and connecting with others, you will be doing the right things to combat your own stress. But what about others? How can you #BeTheChange that they need? Here are some ways you can make that difference.
Listening – and validating: Many of us have things on our mind that contribute towards stress and we need to talk. Simply talking through problems with a trusted friend or colleague can ease pressure and provide new perspectives. In fact, listening is such a beneficial skill in the workplace, and indeed in life, that we wrote a blog containing a number of tips on how to improve your listening skills and support those who may have problems that affect their mental health. Read more here.
Starting conversations: Talking things through can be beneficial, but not everyone finds it easy to open up. In fact, research by mental health charity MIND found that 30% of employees don’t feel they could talk openly with their line manager if feeling stressed. That’s why we wrote a blog on how to encourage conversations and more openness around stress and mental health. With tips on getting conversations started, you can read more here.
Spotting the signs of stress: Would you recognise the signs of stress – in others as well as yourself? Because we all experience and react to stress differently, it makes it difficult to spot – particularly with remote working. In many organisations it’s the line manager who has most contact with their team and is best placed to notice any changes in behaviour that might have stress as the cause. We have a section covering how to spot the signs of stress in this earlier blog, you can read more here.
Encourage physical activity: If you are a line manager or team leader, why not encourage physical activity in the day? Not all meetings have to take place around a table and ‘walking meetings’ are becoming popular for their positive impact on employee wellbeing. Regular movement, such as walking or sports, reduces stress hormones and releases endorphins with their uplifting effect on mood.
In conclusion
Stress affects everyone both inside and outside of work, but the good news is that you have the power to make a difference. By participating in Stress Awareness Month 2026 and embracing the #BeTheChange movement, you’re not just raising awareness – you’re actively reducing stress in your own life while equipping yourself to help others see life more positively.
Get our guide
Cordell Health have produced a guide on stress awareness. It’s available to subscribers to our wellbeing subscription service. If you’d like to know more about this service, please contact us on wellbeing@cordellhealth.co.uk
