Stress Awareness Month: Our Top Tips for a Healthier Workday

Around 79% of employees experienced moderate to high stress at work in 2024, according to MHFA England. A further 63% showed signs of exhaustion, disengagement and early burnout, a clear reminder of how widespread workplace stress has become.

Stress Awareness Month has been observed every April 1992, led by the Stress Management Society to help individuals and organisations recognise the impact of stress and learn healthier ways to cope.

In a world where we’re constantly connected, from emails in our pockets to notifications long after the workday ends, switching off has never been harder. But it’s essential.

Prolonged stress affects our physical and mental wellbeing, so making healthy habits is more important than ever. In this week’s blog, we’re sharing simple, practical ways to manage stress at work.

The Impact of Workplace Stress

Too much stress can directly affect your focus, productivity and overall wellbeing. It also makes it harder to switch off at the end of the day, impacting the quality of your rest and sleep. Left unmanaged, stress can take a real toll on your long term health.

Ongoing, chronic stress can contribute to issues such as:

• Heart disease
• High blood pressure
• Weakened immunity
• Insomnia and sleep disruption

This is why healthy working habits matter. A little pressure is normal, but sustained stress can have a significant impact on both your work and health.

Tip 1 - Start With a Clear, Organised Workspace

An organised workspace might seem like a small thing, but it can make a big difference to your clarity. Visible clutter can add to cognitive load and can heighten feelings of stress.

A quick daily or weekly desk reset helps you feel calmer and focused, and it’s one part of the workday you can fully control, even when everything else feels busy.

Lever arch files, desktop accessories and planners can all create a workspace feel ordered and supportive, even on the most challenging days.

Tip 2 - Break Tasks Into Manageable Steps

Big tasks can feel overwhelming, but no project is too large to break down into manageable steps. Research shows that diving work into smaller actions reduces stress and makes it easier to get started.

If you’ve got a major project or meeting ahead, pause before diving in. List out what needs to be done, identify priorities and use visual notes to bring clarity.

Putting pen to paper can make a huge difference in how you approach a challenging task. Keep notepads close by to map out your thoughts, break tasks down and organise your time effectively.

Tip 3 - Build Movement Into Your Day

It’s tempting to skip breaks on busy days, but long stretches at your desk can reduce focus. Most people can only concentrate fully for around 25-40 minutes, so the longer you sit without pausing, the less productive you become.

Stepping away at lunchtime or taking short, regular breaks helps reset your mind and supports physical and mental wellbeing. Time out is essential for a healthier workday.

No matter how long your to do list is, small consistent breaks help you stay focused throughout the day.

Tip 4 - Set Boundaries

Workdays come with all kinds of demands. When meetings, calls and tasks compete for attention, finding time for deep focus can be difficult. That’s where intentional time blocking helps.

Try grouping similar tasks on specific days, such as:

• One day for meetings
• One day for admin and emails
• One day dedicated to deep focus work

By giving each type of work its own space, you add structure to the week, avoid spreading yourself too thin and reduce the overwhelm that comes from constant task switching.

Tip 5 - Creative a Supportive Work Environment

Alongside building healthier habits, we all play a part in creating a workplace where it’s normal to talk about stress. That might mean having open conversations with managers or colleagues, or simply setting a positive example.

The more we talk about stress the easier it becomes, and the chances are others are also feeling the same way. Contributing to an open, supportive culture helps reduce stress across the whole team.

Small Changes, Big Difference

If work is feeling overwhelming, trying just one or two of these tips can help you have a better day. Stress is something we all experience, but if it builds up, can affect our long term health. This Stress Awareness Month, take a moment to consider whether the way you work is working for you. If not, it might be time to make some changes.