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Taking care of yourself and others

We are all familiar with stress and the impact it can have on our wellbeing. 2020 was an uncertain time for many of us and has shown us that we can’t predict what is around the corner. However, it has also shown how resilient we can be and there have been some truly heart-warming moments of communities coming together to support one another. With 2021 looking like it will also be another challenging year, we recognise the impact this can have on your wellbeing and how stress can overwhelm us if we aren’t careful. Admitting that you aren’t able to control everything can help, as this will support you in handling unexpected situations that you may find yourself in. Stress management can be as simple as learning how to manage your own expectations, and adjusting your thoughts, so you begin to view them slightly differently. 

Tips for when you’re feeling stressed

• Be realistic – you cannot do anything and everything at any given time. Make sure that you set yourself realistic goals and tasks.

• Be flexible and compromise where it’s beneficial – it may be the case that compromise is actually a better way of working and may be less stressful for you or your team.

• Think positively and try to see the good in difficult situations. We understand how hard it is to think positively all the time, but take time out to start thinking of new ways of working, fundraising and getting support.

• Keep a good work-life balance. Cook yourself a nice meal, start a new book or find a new series to watch.

Help and guidance for Staff

We understand that working as part of a charity can be a difficult and emotional role, and the coronavirus pandemic has meant that a great number of staff may be working from home and struggling with their Mental Health. It is will this in mind that we wanted to share a few links to helpful websites, as well as some suggestions of free apps for staff to download.

Helpful Links
www.mentalhealth.org.uk
www.mind.org.uk
www.samaritans.org

Helpful Apps
Catch it
Silvercloud
WorryTree

Towergate Insurance provide a Charity insurance policy that includes access to a 24-hour stress helpline, available for your staff to use when they need it most.

Disclaimer: This article is intended for your general knowledge and is not a substitute for the advice of a medical professional. It should not be used to diagnose or treat a problem