Stress Management for Individuals

Back to Coping with Work Pressure
No one can ever be in control of all the causes of stress in their life. But through self awareness and personal development, we can learn to manage pressure more effectively and reduce the risk of harmful stress.
In support of the University's Stress Management Policy, Staff Development provide a range of courses to assist individuals to successfully balance the demands and pressures of work with home life.
Cultivate a positive attitude
The development of a positive attitude to life is an important skill in managing stress. Feeling confident and good about yourself will help you deal with difficult situations and develop the skills to make relationships work.
Answer these question to understand how well you manage pressure:
1. Do you know the main causes of your stress and can you recognise your early warning signs?
2. Do you feel good about yourself and your achievements and enjoy work?
3. Can you plan your time well and be assertive, when necessary?
If you answer no to any of these questions, the following courses may be of interest to you:
Assertiveness Communication Skills: focuses on communication, conflict management and control.
Exploring your work self: Myers Briggs Workshop: understand how your personality and working style can contribute to team work and effective work relationships.
Stress Management for Individuals: how to manage your own stress levels.
Springboard Development Programme: developed by women for women to develop individual potential, build on strengths and increase self-confidence.
Healthy lifestyle choices
Physically fit and healthy people have greater resilience to pressure and are therefore better able to handle stress than those who are not.
Can you answer YES to all these question?
1. Do you take some exercise each day (i.e. 30 minutes brisk walking)?
2. Have you a leisure activity you enjoy?
3. Have you learnt practical ways to promote relaxation?
3. Do you limit your fat intake and eat fresh fruit and vegetables (daily recommendation is 5 portions)?
4. Do you get enough sleep for your needs?
5. Do you balance your work and leisure, including making full use of your holiday entitlement?
Courses available:
Relaxation session: Techniques to reduce symptoms of stress (Staff Development)
Aerobic, Yoga and Fitness Clinics
Support services available:
Counselling service
Harassment Advisers
Occupational Health
Organisational causes of stress
Stress can also be increased when:
you feel you lack the skills to do your work properly
there is conflict or ambiguity in your role
you have little control over work or involvement in decision making
experiencing difficult interpersonal relationships or conflict at work
excessive responsibility for people, high workload or pace of work
conflicting demands at work and home with little practical support
your job does not match your expectations of the role, or conflicts with your personal values or personality style
Please talk to your manager if any of these are the cause of your stress, or explore the range of courses available from Staff Development.