First Aid for Stress Presented by: Julie Finn, Relationship Manager First Marblehead Content Developed by HRDQ

Disclaimer The purpose of this presentation is to provide some suggestions for how to cope with everyday workplace stress. The information contained herein represents the opinion of its author and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any stress- related illness or mental health condition. If you have concerns about your health, or would like more information about how to deal with stress, please contact your physician. 2 © 2008, 2013 HRDQ

Objectives Determine your stress level Debunk stress myths Understand stress triggers Learn how to proactively manage your stress And more! 3 © 2008, 2013 HRDQ

Activity: Stress Check 4

Acknowledging the Concept of Stress ✚ Working in financial aid is stressful ✚ Stress can affect our quality of life ✚ Stress can reduce productivity 5 © 2008, 2013 HRDQ

Debunking Stress Myths ✚ Myth 1 – Stress does not exist ✚ Myth 2 – Stress is not a problem in this office ✚ Myth 3 – All stress is bad 6 © 2008, 2013 HRDQ

What is Stress? ✚ Personal Perceptions of Stress ✚ Stress Indicators ✚ Psychological ✚ Physiological ✚ Behavioral 7 © 2008, 2013 HRDQ

Summary ✚ We must accept that stress in the workplace exists and work to understand what it means. ✚ Stress definitions range from the simple to the complex and comprehensive. ✚ Stress can be defined as being a stimulus, a response, or a relationship between a person and his or her environment. ✚ Stress can usefully be defined as an “umbrella” term under which a wide range of issues and aspects of human function and performance at work can be understood and managed. ✚ Our definitions of stress guide our understanding and stress management interventions at work. 8 © 2008, 2013 HRDQ

Understanding the Causes of Stress ✚ Understimulation and Overstimulation ✚ The Problem of Understimulation ✚ Overstimulation: A Threat to Quality Work 9 © 2008, 2013 HRDQ

Common Causes of Stress ✚ Sleep deprivation ✚ Noise ✚ Stress and sickness, absence 10 © 2008, 2013 HRDQ

Cultivating the Quality Workplace ✚ Acknowledge and value each other ✚ Make sure everyone feels they belong ✚ Be kind to each other 11 © 2008, 2013 HRDQ

Causes of Stress Summary ✚ The balance between understimulation and overstimulation in the workplace ✚ The need for organizations to become more responsible and more proactive in their approaches to preventing and alleviating stress at work ✚ The part played by work demands and information flow on the quality of employee performance ✚ Stress and sickness absence ✚ The need to create and maintain a quality workplace as much as a performance-driven one 12 © 2008, 2013 HRDQ

Activity: Job Stress/Satisfaction 13

Suggestions for Managing Stress Laugh more Play online games Listen to music Practice breathing exercises Take a break Exercise Progressive muscle relaxation Meditation Say no…. Try a new hobby/activity 14 © 2008, 2013 HRDQ

Final Thoughts ✚ Stress is present during the whole of the human life span. ✚ We simply cannot assume that every single time stress is experienced it is a bad thing for employees. Stress can be a motivator as long as it does not exceed our ability to cope. ✚ What we can say is that stress only becomes a problem for workers if and when the significant demands they face in their working lives exceed their social, psychological, biological, and somatic resources and abilities to cope. 15 © 2008, 2013 HRDQ