To mark National Stress Awareness Month which kicks off tomorrow, Health & Protection spoke to an array of advisers and found music, meditation, martial arts and painting – of canvasses and orks and wizards – feature among their top techniques to unwind after a stressful day.
Penny Jackson, director at The Insurance Boutique, turns to mindfulness and a quick meditation session.
“I listen to these sessions every night to fall asleep,” Jackson said.
“I also take a break, have a quick walk or coffee break or just take time away from the desk to re-focus.
“It’s also important to prioritise and organise my workload by deciding what is most important.
“I like to de-clutter a bit, even clearing out the inbox can de-stress the mind, I find I am so much more productive when I have de-cluttered and organised my work space.
“Or I simply pick up the phone to a friend or professional contact.”
Alan Lakey, director at Highclere Financial Services, revealed music is his outlet.
“Apart from taking off to a sunnier clime, my favourite technique is to put on the headphones and play around with an array of guitars/keyboards – an hour or so of that leaves me sufficiently rejuvenated to dive back into the mire.”
Artistic impression
Art proved to be a good method for tackling stress and supporting mental wellbeing for a couple of advisers, who like to express their creative sides in slightly different methods.
Andrew Wilkinson, director at Moneysworth, (pictured) enjoys having his creative outlet.
“The job is definitely quite stressful,” he says.
“The honest answer is that I make art. It’s helps me focus simply on what is in front of me and the present moment and for that time I can forget work related stress.”
Alan Knowles, co-managing director at Cura Financial Services, told Health & Protection he has two main stress busters.
“The first is I enjoy kickboxing and I’m currently training for my black belt. This is amazing at getting the endorphins flowing as well as allowing you to take stress out on a heavy bag,” he says.
“Secondly, I embrace my inner geek, and I enjoy painting Warhammer and Dungeons & Dragons style figures.
“I do not play the games, I just paint the figures, I’m not sure which is worse. But it’s time away from screens and is very relaxing and rewarding.”
Exercise and spiritual health
For Isaac Feiner, managing director at Lifepoint Healthcare, destressing requires a mix of exercise and engaging with his spiritual side.
“I hit the gym three times a week, spend 30 minutes plus every single day in gratitude, and spend a lot of time nurturing the spiritual side of my life. Hugging my wife and kids does the trick too.”
Marcia Reid, non-executive director at Sherwood Healthcare, opts for a mix of fresh air and exercise.
“My stress-fix is very simple – fresh air, whatever the weather. I am lucky to have a fairly large garden, surrounded by trees and fields and if I ever get bogged down with a tricky dilemma or mind block, I wander around it, taking in the sounds, scents and lovely views.
“There are two red kites nesting in a 200 year old oak tree, and watching these magnificent birds dive and swoop across the sky is a really good way to disentangle a muddled head.
“My second fix is exercise – I make sure to do at least 8,000 steps a day, preferably outside and in chunks of not less than 1,000.
“Video calls or webinars are a killer as you can’t move, but I normally catch up with colleagues with a good old fashioned phone call and have managed up to 16,000 steps a day with multiple calls.
“I have worked with a personal trainer once a week for over 10 years and it probably won’t surprise some people that I love boxing with her. It is a great way to get some cardio work done but more importantly it’s really good fun and a peaceful way to get rid of any pent-up aggression.”
Focus on me time
Self-confessed introvert and extrovert, Lucie Gosling-Myers, client development manager at Lockton, tells Health & Protection she likes to strike a balance depending on the shifting needs that particular day or week.
“I ensure I make plans to socialise and laugh each week with supportive colleagues, friends, or family, who can offer me a fresh perspective and help to alleviate work-related stress,” Gosling-Myers says.
“At times however, I recognise activities that might drain my battery and lead to stress.
“I then make an effort to set boundaries and carve out alone time each week for self-care, such as listening to an audio book, a quiet soak in the bath or taking the dogs for a walk in the sun to allow myself to recharge.”
And Audrey Spence, director at Incorporate Benefits, prefers a mix of techniques.
“One thing that relieves my stress is working smarter by having a list and prioritising my workload,” she says.
“If I have a lot of things going on in my head it definitely causes me extra anxiety. As they say, don’t sweat the small stuff.
“Exercise and even just taking a walk – I encourage our staff to take a break from their desks at lunchtime and get some air. It definitely rejuvenates you for the afternoon.
“Looking at the positives in my life on a regular basis to make me appreciate what I have always makes me smile. Sometimes it’s easy to get bogged down with every day life and take the small things in life for granted.”